'Would You Rather' - Weekly Film Analysis By: Unknown No comments

PRODUCED IN: 2013

RELEASED IN: 2013

TYPE: Feature Film

GENRE: Horror, Thriller

CERTIFICATE: 15

RUNNING TIME: 93 Minutes

FILMING LOCATION: USA (Pasadena, California)

LANGUAGE: English (American)

DIRECTED BY: David Guy Levy

PRODUCED BY: Maura Anderson, Zak Kilberg, David Guy Levy

WRITTEN BY: Steffen Schlachtenhaufen

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Periscope Entertainment, Dreamher Productions, Lambrick Foundation, Social Construct

DISTRIBUTED BY: IFC Films, Ascot Elite Home Entertainment, Cinemax, Klockworx

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Steven Capilato, Steve Callitri

EDITING: Josh Schaeffer

MUSIC BY: Daniel Hunt, Bardi Johannsson

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Brittany Snow, June Squibb, Jeffrey Combs

THEMES: Dilemmas, choices, psychology, humanity, morality, determination, scruple, conscience

Desperate to help her ailing brother, a young woman unknowingly agrees to compete in a deadly game of 'Would you rather', hosted by a sadistic aristocrat.

The cinematography in the film holds consistent tone and presentation, and with horror films especially, I very much believe that uniformed cinematography is crucial to preserving the mood. 

Throughout the film director of Photography Steve Calitri paints an unchanged vision for the audience. However, because of this, in several scenes, this constantly unchanging lighting was so out of place, that what should have been a scary or tense atmosphere was completely ruined. When the film returned to the game room to continue on with each round, the cinematography was really strong and balanced, exactly how it needed to be. However, the camera was never taken off the tripod for scenes that required it which created a true lack of kinetic atmosphere and tension in the scenes where people are running about and shooting.

Would You Rather is part of a horror breed lead primarily by Srdan Spasojevic and Pier Paolo Pasolini which is an attempting sociopolitical jab at those born into power, and their twisted definitions of pleasure and excitement. Combs’ Lambrick is very similar in many ways to Aldo Valletti’s President (of the 120 Days of Sodom) and Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman (of American Psycho). In that they are all sadistic power players manipulating people to their gory ends.

One could also compare it to 'Saw' and, due to the torture parts, it could equally be compared to Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s 'Inside.'

Although horror film abominations such as Eli Roth’s 'Hostel' or Tom Six’ 'The Human Centipede' attempt to follow in the same trend, I believe Would You Rather comes a bit closer to this intention. It has very strong moments, however the lack of understanding in how to shift moods effectively does become a burden. 

At times, the writing can be very stiff but Schlachtenhaufen does show promise as a thriller and horror writer, and it’s nice to see his primary background in special effects didn’t bleed too heavily into this film. This film was a fair attempt, however, I don't believe that it was as successful as it could've been. That being said, when it was excelling, it was a gripping and fascinating piece.