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| RPGs gone crazy. |
2 Stars
Welcome to 2034, a not too distant future where gamers have given up conventional gaming for the latest craze; mind control. The creator of this revolutionary technology, Ken Castle (Michael Hall) has moulded this profitable hi-tech phenomena to create the ultimate gaming experience.
First there was Society, a creepy real-life versions of The Sims that allowed anybody with enough money and spare time to become anyone, and do anything. The player's perverse actions are played out live by 'actors', who, controlled by nanites in their brain, will dance, jump, rape or party on command.
Of course, Society was only the beginning. The world is clamouring desperately for a new thrill. This is delivered in form of the latest gaming sensation: Slayers; a multi-player war game-come-reality show, (a' la Halo), where deathrow inmates battle for freedom under the control of pre-pubescent teen gaming addicts.
Gerard Butler is on arse-kicking duty as Slayer superstar and killing machine Kable, controlled by self-diagnosed "bad-ass motherfucker", 17 year old, trustfund teen Simon (Logan Lerman). That is, until game hackers and political activists Humanz persuade Simon to "turn him loose", thus unleashing Kable on a murderous mission to escape the game, find his wife and daughter and uncover the dark truth behind Castle's twisted technology.
Verdict: This film had real promise; with a brilliant plot line and a talented cast I was expecting the next Matrix, unfortunately it fails to deliver. After a decent set up, the ending seems rushed, and following a seemingly fleeting series of nominal events and a relatively quick showdown at Castle's mansion (complete with a jazzy dance number) Kable overpowers the "foolproof" mind control technology and defeats Castle, (whilst conveniently broadcasting his deranged confession of world domination to the general public). However, there are some redeeming qualities; a hefty body count, one or two memorable quotes and a few nicely shot game player-esque sequences make this semi-decent watch. Just don't set your hopes too high.
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