Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Horror tale about '80s video game; gore, violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Choose or Die
What's the Story?
In CHOOSE OR DIE, Kayla (Iola Evans) works as a custodian in New York. She's taking care of her mother, who has suffered depression since the drowning death of Kayla's younger brother Ricky, and is trying to find work and a better life as a programmer. Her best friend is Isaac (Asa Butterfield), who spends his days coding and basking in 1980s nostalgia. One day, Kayla pays a visit to Isaac, who has just discovered a circa 1984 computer game called "Curs>r," which promises riches to those who can beat it. Believing that the presumed cash prize may still be available to win, Kayla borrows Curs>r and gets it set up on her computer to play. It doesn't take long for Kayla to discover that, for all of the game's dated graphics, it knows where Kayla is and anticipates what those around her are about to say. The game then offers terrifying choices with the ultimatum to "choose or die." As the game goes after those around her, Kayla enlists the help of Isaac to crack the game's code, find out why it's seemingly possessed, and win and/or destroy it before more people are killed.
Is It Any Good?
This is a creepy and unsettling horror movie in the best possible ways. Choose or Die is the story of two young adults who unwittingly unleash an '80s computer game with demonic and murderous tendencies. It forces the player to make lose-lose decisions, and the imagery that results in these decisions is almost always disturbing and frightening. While some moments with this premise work better than others, the movie offers a tight story, perfectly paced, with acting that goes far beyond standard horror fare.
The movie also does a refreshing job of exploring and commenting on '80s nostalgia without beating the viewer over the head with it. Quite the opposite, actually, and without spoiling anything, there's a use of '80s synth-legend Gary Numan lyrics near the end that's both clever and darkly hilarious. This is the rare horror movie that proves that a basic and effective story can do more to scare and entertain than an overreliance on blood, guts, shrieky background music, and all the usual horror movie bag of clichéd tricks.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence, gore, and creepy imagery in Choose or Die. Is it necessary? Gratuitous? Why?
One of the clichés in horror is that people of color and/or women are among the first to be killed. Has this changed in recent years, and if so, what are some examples of horror movies in which women and people of color are lead characters who manage to stay alive through most, if not all, of the movie?
How does the movie explore themes like '80s nostalgia and technology overload?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 15, 2022
- Cast : Iola Evans , Asa Butterfield , Robert Englund
- Director : Toby Meakins
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : April 22, 2022
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