Given the opportunity to participate in a life or death reality game show, one man discovers there's a lot to live for.Given the opportunity to participate in a life or death reality game show, one man discovers there's a lot to live for.Given the opportunity to participate in a life or death reality game show, one man discovers there's a lot to live for.
John Hans Tester
- Anders
- (as Hans Tester)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Imagine you're alone and a chance is then presented, to make a million bucks just for 30 days tormented, there's a caveat or two, on occasion you'll be blue, quite often feel frustrated, and abandoned, discontented. On your journey you'll encounter those who may become your friends, as well as those quite keen to bring existence to an end, there'll be those living in shadows, impersonators in costumed clothes, but as the film continues, you will question, what's been penned. As like me you may sit static without laughing or a smirk, as the humour is quite lacking and poor Tommy is a berk, although you may feel sympathetic, to his plight that's quite prophetic, alas the value it delivers, is most likely to just irk.
Why surprising? Well, I have seen some of Johnson work before and whilst I find him a talented comic actor, I also find that most of his movies have a good central idea, like this one, but then drift away as time goes on.
This one, kind of does that that, but it builds up so much good will, in the viewer, during its runtime that it really doesn't really matter.
There are many smart cameos from Andy Samberg and Christopher Lloyd and Anna Kendrick.
The best thing about this is the central idea which reminded me a little of It Follows, the horror movie from a few years ago, this is like a comedy version of that.
Well worth a watch.
This one, kind of does that that, but it builds up so much good will, in the viewer, during its runtime that it really doesn't really matter.
There are many smart cameos from Andy Samberg and Christopher Lloyd and Anna Kendrick.
The best thing about this is the central idea which reminded me a little of It Follows, the horror movie from a few years ago, this is like a comedy version of that.
Well worth a watch.
Self Reliance is a fun debut directing gig from Jake Johnson. Johnson takes an interesting premise and brings some good moments to it although not quite sticking the landing.
The movie could have went in a more intriguing direction by giving it more of a horror vibe when the attacks happen. You never get the sense Johnson is in any real danger.
The real heart of the movie is between Johnson and Anna Kendrick who's easy chemistry together makes the movie. The stuff featuring Kendrick are the movies standout scenes.
There are some nice cameos from Andy Samberg & Christopher Lloyd. Ultimately it is Jake Johnson's charm that carries the movie but this still feels like a missed opportunity. Recommendable.
The movie could have went in a more intriguing direction by giving it more of a horror vibe when the attacks happen. You never get the sense Johnson is in any real danger.
The real heart of the movie is between Johnson and Anna Kendrick who's easy chemistry together makes the movie. The stuff featuring Kendrick are the movies standout scenes.
There are some nice cameos from Andy Samberg & Christopher Lloyd. Ultimately it is Jake Johnson's charm that carries the movie but this still feels like a missed opportunity. Recommendable.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
Self-Reliance is a pretty bad comedy thriller film that has a promising concept about a guy getting picked for a reality dark web show. Where he has to survive 30 days from the hunters to win money. And a flaw that the hunters cant attack when they are nearby people.
Plot was okay. Jake Johnson did good and was funny with the role. The humor and script does not last throughout the film. Humor can barely last so long in the film which falls flat by the time it reaches the third act. The direction and script falls tedious in the end. Anna Kendrick was also okay for a small portion of the film. Which the movie fails to let us know what happens to her in the end.
Overall, it is a comedy film that has a few laughs while falling flat in the end.
Self-Reliance is a pretty bad comedy thriller film that has a promising concept about a guy getting picked for a reality dark web show. Where he has to survive 30 days from the hunters to win money. And a flaw that the hunters cant attack when they are nearby people.
Plot was okay. Jake Johnson did good and was funny with the role. The humor and script does not last throughout the film. Humor can barely last so long in the film which falls flat by the time it reaches the third act. The direction and script falls tedious in the end. Anna Kendrick was also okay for a small portion of the film. Which the movie fails to let us know what happens to her in the end.
Overall, it is a comedy film that has a few laughs while falling flat in the end.
I had some trepidations about this movie, but the premise of this quirky story made me curious AND I like the actor Jake Johnson, so my hopes were high, BUT...
The bad: the story ended up being completely silly and void of ANY originality. Just lame. Not credible. Let alone be anything near suspenseful or mysterious.
Well perhaps the acting was any good? NOPE. The jokes? NOPE. Let me think if there is anything left that might be positive to say. I am sorry, I am lost for words...
I love Jake Johnson as the actor, but he directed (debut) AND wrote AND produced this movie, while he had no earlier experience in directing at all and he basically made a uneventful tedious flop.
The bad: the story ended up being completely silly and void of ANY originality. Just lame. Not credible. Let alone be anything near suspenseful or mysterious.
Well perhaps the acting was any good? NOPE. The jokes? NOPE. Let me think if there is anything left that might be positive to say. I am sorry, I am lost for words...
I love Jake Johnson as the actor, but he directed (debut) AND wrote AND produced this movie, while he had no earlier experience in directing at all and he basically made a uneventful tedious flop.
Did you know
- TriviaJake Johnson has stated in interviews that the inspiration for the movie's plot were various Japanese game shows with extreme premises that he watched in his youth.
- Quotes
Tommy: So let me get this straight, it's 30 days, right? and you guys are hunting me for my life but you cannot touch me if I am with someone and the hunters might not even ever make it to my city, so there's a chance I spend the entire 30 days and no one even finds me and then I get a million dollars, that's the game?
Magnus: Are you interested?
Tommy: Let's play.
- SoundtracksEvery Step of the Way
Written by Harvey Scales (as Harvey L Scales)
Performed by Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds
Courtesy of The Numero Group
- How long is Self Reliance?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Самодостатність
- Filming locations
- Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, USA(Tommy is chased by cowboy just before finding limo.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 25m(85 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content