DarkGame

For a British film especially, the writing is subpar and lacking any subtlety. It's like it was written by a 12 year old. There is a scene about a third of the way through where the large group of captives are all holding guns and 'forced' to play russian roullette while their 'captors' are standing around the room without guns, goading and mocking them. This tells you everything you need to know about this film. Why they decided to take a bunch of British actors and make them fake American accents & pretend they were in Portland USA rather than Bristol (the actual filming location) is beyond me. The end just inexplicably disintegrated into nothing.

Actually more than one game! So no pun intended! Yes if that sounds familiar ... you may have ... Saw in mind! You saw it coming anyway (the pun that is). You may be tired of all the movies trying to copy Saw - and I don't think this is able to reach the heights of it ... maybe not even some of its sequels power.

That said, the movie is more than fine .... especially the main bad guy. He is having so much fun with his role ... and it shows! Even if he covers his face - I assume there may be another movie in the works - or at least planned ... maybe prequel, maybe something or rather someone else than him taking over ... maybe him - depends on the end of the movie, doesn't it? That was rhetorical obviously.

Interesting horror with some horrifying effects ... not for the faint hearted for sure ... be wary if you are sensitive ... just saying.

Disappointed! The idea of the film was good - executed in a miserable way.

Set design - meh Costume design - Bad Acting - more than enough room for improvement Script/ dialogue - a lot of cliché tech and law terminology Music/score - okay

Overall felt like a high school project, so I can imagine it would be convincing for 12yr olds.

It was like watching one of those fake prank videos on Facebook - just irritatingly pretentious.

The events are said to take place on the dark web - I'm confident that zero research was conducted regarding the etiquette and culture surrounding the dark web and 'red rooms'.

Same goes for law enforcement - their meetings are cheesy, the swat team are cringe and felt like I was watching a YouTube skit or a SNL sketch. I'm impressed at how little effort can be made into a movie that potentially had a great film writer.

Everything felt really vague! ... Not to be confused with ambiguity (in which case would be somewhat suspenseful) It is a watered down version of something that could've been tasty.

Everything felt a little too clean and 'on the nose' with no depth or character development.

It's like when Crime programs like CSI used to do that thing where they click one button to "enhance image" ... Like bruh 😆 that's the feeling I got when watching this - like we're just supposed to accept it haha.

Gave 2 stars because it MIGHT be funny if you're high.

Netflix practically begged me to watch this movie. It was relentless, like an overeager friend who won't stop texting you about their latest obsession. So, with expectations lower than a slug doing the limbo, I gave in.

Now, was the plot groundbreaking? Absolutely not. But then, BOOM, Ed Westwick appeared, smouldering like a human campfire and doing his best "I'm totally American" act. Did my rating get a little Westwick bump? I mean... who's to say? (Spoiler: It did.)

What I did like was the ensemble vibe. More characters, more dialogue. On the downside, the lighting crew must've called in sick, because in some scenes, I was squinting harder than someone reading the fine print on a New Year New Me 2025 gym membership. Game of Thrones Season 8 flashbacks, anyone?

Now, let's talk about the dark web subplot. Creepy as hell. My overactive brain instantly filed it under "probably happening IRL," like a mix of Taken and Hostel. And honestly? The film was disturbing without being a gore fest, which I appreciated. Sometimes implying horror is way more effective than splattering it everywhere. Let me do a little mental scarring on my own, thanks.

My golden rule: If a movie doesn't hook me in 15 minutes, I'm out. But this one passed the test. Why? The lack of slow, soul-draining silent scenes helped. So did the abundance of characters. Oh, and Ed Westwick. Did I mention Ed Westwick? Swoon.

"Darkgame" is a suspenseful ride that throws you into the murky world of online predators and hidden identities. While the film falters at times with a predictable plot that borrows from other films, it's the strong performances and intriguing characters that keep you engaged.

The story follows Detective Jacobs as he delves into a twisted online game where viewers pay to watch victims tortured. The investigation takes him down a rabbit hole of cryptic clues and shadowy figures, including the enigmatic Presenter (played with chilling relish by Andrew P. Stephen) who orchestrates the disturbing game.

Where Darkgame truly excels is in its atmosphere. The film masterfully captures the unsettling anonymity of the dark web, making you question who you can trust online. The interrogation scenes are particularly tense, with Detective Jacobs facing off against cunning suspects like Larch (brilliantly portrayed by Rick Yale), a character whose backstory hints at a deeper darkness.

However, the film's biggest weakness lies in its familiarity. The plot unfolds in a fairly predictable manner, relying on well-worn tropes of the genre. With a bigger budget, Darkgame could have delved deeper into the psychological motivations of its characters.

Here's where the film's true potential lies. Characters like Larch and The Presenter are far too fascinating to be relegated to the sidelines. While the film might not break new ground narratively, it lays the foundation for a captivating universe with untapped potential. If you're looking for a quick and suspenseful watch, Darkgame won't disappoint.