Choose or Die
Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): April 15, 2022
3.5
USER SCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 31 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
3
Mixed:
12
Negative:
16
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
RslashAtriocApr 15, 2022
This movie isn’t bad and for the generation of gamers who grew up with stuff from the 80’s, this movie might be a good watch but for the rest of us, it felt like a industry standard horror that wasn’t anything particularly special.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
TVJerryApr 18, 2022
Two coders (Iola Evans & Asa Butterfield) discover an 80s computer game that causes all manner of vicious outcomes…not to the player, but to their unsuspecting victim. There have been numerous movies about deadly online forces, as well asTwo coders (Iola Evans & Asa Butterfield) discover an 80s computer game that causes all manner of vicious outcomes…not to the player, but to their unsuspecting victim. There have been numerous movies about deadly online forces, as well as shows that put people in potentially painful dilemmas, esp. the Saw series and most recently, Squid Game. Both of these genres are exploited here, but not with much new. One of the primary reasons to watch a thriller is for the thrills and there's no tension here. The sometimes horrifying ways that people are killed gets gruesome, which may appease those looking for sadistic violence. The story's logic veers in weird ways, which gives the filmmakers plenty of room to create whatever challenges they want. Plus, the open ending leaves it ready to exploit sequels. Even so, this premise feels more like another Netflix algorithm without much daring or original to make it memorable. BTW, Robert Englund, best known as Freddie Krueger, lends his voice to the game.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
JLuis_001Apr 22, 2022
Nonsensical scenarios are hardly uncommon in the horror genre, and Choose or Die doesn't even bother to deliver anything that works outside of those principles.

It's half-baked, boring and not scary at all, but still its approach was bothNonsensical scenarios are hardly uncommon in the horror genre, and Choose or Die doesn't even bother to deliver anything that works outside of those principles.

It's half-baked, boring and not scary at all, but still its approach was both understandable and self-sustaining despite all its limitations, so I can't understand why it tries to make sense of it by looking for a more serious explanation in its third act.
One that barely and makes sense, but I assume its creators believed the audience needed a more sinister explanation no matter how weak it felt.

But it's a Netflix movie after all.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Stream2BigScreeApr 22, 2022
Streamers, you know I'm a sucker for a horror movie. Of course, right on cue Netflix comes out with an Easter horror flick for me, Choose or Die. It has a retro movie like a "Strangers Things"-vibe meets Saw. Doesn't that description soundStreamers, you know I'm a sucker for a horror movie. Of course, right on cue Netflix comes out with an Easter horror flick for me, Choose or Die. It has a retro movie like a "Strangers Things"-vibe meets Saw. Doesn't that description sound cool? Either way, Choose or Die follows Kayla after she finds and begins to play a lost 80s survival horror game. Kayla tries to bring this old-school game into the 21st century with her coding skills, but she unleashes a bit more than she bargained for into her life. Kayla's forced to make some terrifying choices - keep playing or die. I know you're intrigued.

The concept is pretty cool, but the execution is beyond me. There are a few other movies that have the main character choosing between the lesser of two evils. Truth or Dare is one that comes to mind. Here, just like other movies I just kept thinking, "Why and how does this thing control people?" I've watched and I still don't understand. It doesn't make sense to me why and how it controls people and things around them. I'm really confused about the ending as well. Why would this make any sense? It makes for a unique situation so I'm all for it; but, just can we make movies make sense sometimes. Sure, some may be saying that it's clearly a fictional horror movie and it doesn't need to make sense; but, I beg the differ. Add a nice 10 minutes of context into it and help this viewer out. I'm not asking for much just a bit of continuity to give the movie some believability. This movie could easily go from horror movie to I'm-not-touching-a-Resident-Evil-videogame-ever-again with a little bit of care.

Let's talk about the limited cast. The two stars do a pretty good job for what the movie is. I feel their fear and pain. What I'm really trying to figure out is how one goes from an Academy Award movie like Hugo and Ender's Game to this in the matter of 9 years. I know child actors tend to fall off but half-way through those 11 years he was in a couple other big name movies. Anyway, that has nothing to do with this particular movie. Asa Butterfield was alright for this in the fawning boy role, I guess. Iola Evans, on the other hand, while not groundbreaking, did a very good job of conveying the panic, pain, fear, etc. Needed for this role. Let's see if she gets more "scream queen" roles in the future.

With that said, for a streaming movie in April, Choose or Die gives horror fans a little bit of a fix. It's not groundbreaking, not that scary, but it definitely gets the "I'm looking over my shoulder" bug for gamers going. The movie is strangely imaginative and unimaginative at the same time. Either way, grab a bowl of popcorn for this streaming flick. Parents go home and break all of your kid's games just in case, you've been warned.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
JLauMay 22, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Girl working as a cleaner who knows a bit about coding comes across as old game that forces you to make decisions or someone dies, so she plays it and helps her drug-addicted mother escape some rats.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
ThisGuy1Apr 18, 2022
It was exactly what you'd expect - which is not a bad thing, but also not good. Nothing particularly new. Pacing was all over the place. Dumb ending. Ultimately, I felt like this was a missed opportunity on Netflix's part. Maybe I'mIt was exactly what you'd expect - which is not a bad thing, but also not good. Nothing particularly new. Pacing was all over the place. Dumb ending. Ultimately, I felt like this was a missed opportunity on Netflix's part. Maybe I'm overthinking it. But, after you already produced a Choose Your Own Adventure interactive film with Black Mirror Bandersnatch, how do you NOT make a movie called "Choose or Die" similarly interactive. I feel like this would have helped with audience immersion and given the movie some rewatch (nay, replay) value. Whereas, as it is, I don't intend to rewatch this nor would I recommend it to anyone.… Expand
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