Netflix Film Review: Choose Or Die.

Adapted from Netflix.

What’s more insane than having to choose between two deadly options? How much are you willing to risk for the ultimate prize, swallow glass or drink acid? If not, you die anyway. If you like retro-style interactive video games, with a wicked twist, then Choose or Die might be the movie for you. Warning, spoilers up ahead!

After watching Squid Game, I struggled with finding something to watch that was quite like it. I needed to fill that void – until I stumbled upon Choose or Die, and I must say that it was a fantastic but scary film to watch (I’ll be staying away from video games for a while). 

Adapted from Netflix.

The movie feels like a crossover between Jumanji and Squid Game but is more terrifying. Imagine being forced to pick between chopping off your ear or tongue (quite literally so), if not you die and you can't quit either – freaky right? Well, that's one of the types of options players in this movie had to pick from. Sometimes options would include the livelihood of their loved ones or people around them and when the stakes are raised that high, anything is bound happen. 

Choose or Die is a British horror film directed by Toby Meakins in his feature directorial debut, was released on Netflix on 15th April 2022. The film focuses on a college student named Kayla (our main character) struggling to make ends meet, having a crap job, taking care of her mother who has fallen into drugs, and dealing with the loss of her younger brother. She soon comes across a game called CURS>R, seeing the promise of prize money if anyone managed to beat the game. Kayla plays the game in hopes of winning the unclaimed prize, unknowingly that she had just thrown herself and those around her into a demonic gaming experience. 

Adapted from Netflix.

In terms of ratings, the film received a 4.7/10 on IMDB and a shocking 30% dismal from critics and a 22% audience rating (which normally ranks higher than critic review) on Rotten Tomatoes, which translates to the film being in need for improvement. It's a horror movie that lacked a lot of horror elements, since it’s not overwhelmingly terrifying – critics found it more of a thriller than horror. I found the plot quite compelling, with a good amount of suspense and the graphics, violent, gory, creepy not to mention bloody. 

Adapted from Netflix.

In my book, Choose or Die is an extremely clever concept that could be repeatable in many sequels (if any), it is a perfect entry point into the genre for noob viewers, one that will also satisfy old-school diehards.