Hello film fans! Here I am, back with another review! I just want to say, before we get started, that the above posted/dvd cover isn't the one that shows up on Netflix, it is rather, a close up of an eye with a razor blade, lip-pursingly close to it. I prefer that one to the above one as it is less fussy and far more inviting that the busy poster above.
Anyway, without further ado. Would You Rather is a sort of Ronseal job (does what it says on the tin). There is a woman, Iris (Brittany Snow) whose brother Raleigh (isn't that a kind of bike?! Played by Logan Miller) is dying of some terrible disease. The film opens with her desperately trying to find a job to help pay the debt left by their dead parents as well as the mounting medical bills. Needless to say, she's unsuccessful, and has had to drop out of collage to take care of Raleigh.
For some unfathomable reason, one of her brother's doctors invites Iris to meet with a man called Shep (Jeffrey Combs) who tells Iris of a 'game' that he hosts once a year, the winner receives all the help they require for whatever problems they have in their life, be it bad health, drugs, debt, or in Iris' case, her debt and medical bills. Oh and a transplant that her brother desperately needs lest he die.
For even more unfathomable reasons, Iris asks NO questions as to the nature of this 'game'. The doctor and Shep are infuriatingly vague about giving any details and talk like politicians, beating around the bush and never saying anything useful.
So of course, Iris goes. Not before spinning some lie to her brother that will have consequences later on in the film. Anyway, a car comes to pick her up and she arrives and begins talking with a couple of the other 'contestants'. All together there are 8 people, Iris, the token black guy, kick-ass Dave, can't-take-a-beating-Bob, gambling-fat-man, wheelchair-bound-biddy, stick-up-her-ass-goth-chick and alcoholic-Jim.
As they are all sitting around eating dinner, Iris informs her host she is veggie when she is served steak and foie-gras. Shep says he'll pay her $10'000 to eat the meat. Which she does, and let the carnage begin.
Just to cut a long story short, alcoholic-Jim is the first to die, after swallowing an entire decanter of whiskey he kicks off and is shot by the butler-assassin. can't-take-a-beating-Bob literally gets beaten to death with a fancy whipping stick. He got preferential treatment for saying something insulting to Shep's son, Julian (who is a complete tool, far too interested in the sicker side of the game. I really hoped to see him get his just desserts, which he does to an extent but nowhere near what he deserved).
Token black guy gets shot during the groups first, and only, attempt at escape. Wheelchair-bound-biddy gets stabbed in the leg with an ice-pick by gambling-fat-man who tears open her artery and she bleeds to death. Gambling fat man has a quarter stick duct-taped to his hand which he is forced to light himself, resulting in a few less fingers and a heart attack that sees him off.
At this point, they're all having to choose between holding their breath in a barrel full of water for 2 minutes or opting for the punishments in their envelopes. Needless to say gambling-fat-man went for what was behind door number two and lost a hand. Iris chooses the barrel and makes it out alive. Kick-ass Dave opts for envelope and has to slice open his eye with a razor blade which he manages with a second to spare before being shot by the staff.
Stick-up-her-ass-goth-chick, who has been a real pleasure to deal with up to this point (she stabbed Iris in the side, electrocuted at least two people and was the favourite to win) chooses the envelope. We learn her husband drowned their baby (but surprisingly this is ALL we know about her) her envelope? 4 minutes underwater. Just as she's taking a huge gulp of air, her head is thrust into the water meaning she lasts about 30 seconds before drowning.
It's down to Iris and kick-ass Dave. Would You Rather shoot Dave while he's in the middle of telling you his heartbreaking story? Or would your rather escap....oh no you shot Dave.
Hurrah, you.....win?! Anyway, beaten, bloody and looking like a melancholy panda, Iris takes her dufflebag full of cash along with promises of the desired organs before the end of the following week and returns home.
I won't spoil the very end, but if you have half a brain you've probably figured it out. It is my opinion that this film had great potential, it is reminiscent of Cabin in the Woods, and Killing Room. It just missed out on so much more, yes it had tension, and the bloke who played Shep the crazy millionaire wasn't a bad actor but on the whole most of the characters lacked any depth and the plot was predictable for the most part. Still it wasn't the worst film I've ever seen and if you like a tense plot it's worth a watch.
It scores a middle of the road 5/10
Until next time, film fans.
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