Admittedly, I am at odds with myself on how to feel about Netflix's latest horror film, Choose Or Die. On one hand, the new age horror flick generates the kind of spine tingling panic I want from a thriller feature. However, this 84 minute long grotesque horror romp confuses situational quandary and moral philosophy, resulting in a tantalizing tale that is both fascinating and frustrating.

Choose or Die compels its audience to question their moral compass. In the film, Kala (Iola Evans, The 100) is a college dropout who’s in desperate need of a quick payout. She stumbles upon a lost 80s survival horror game titled CURS>R, with an unclaimed prize of $100,000. Kala becomes utterly consumed in the game as she’s forced to make terrifying decisions that alter reality in a horrific and violent way.

Evans gives an honest performance that showcases the weight and punishment of poverty. She, as many may be able to relate, is caught in the catch-22 of being unable to land a good paying job without completing college, while not being able to return to college without the financial support of a good paying job. It’s a vicious cycle that has made her more ceceptial to putting herself in harm's way to better her circumstances. Evans’ agony exudes through the screen with every painstaking decision. She embodies the spirit of someone who has been stuck in survival mode and will do whatever it takes to find a sense of relief.

Comparatively, Asa Butterfield offers an unnotable performance as Kala’s nerdy best friend, Isaac. Those familiar with his work as Otis in Sex Education may find similar qualities in his role here as Isaac, however, he lacks the same charisma and can’t pack the same punch in his screen presence. For example, at the pivotal point of the film when Isaac first witnesses the game’s reality-bending nature, his shock comes off as a bland confusion. It’s as if he’s just going through the motions rather than investing real emotion into the character.

It’s a mixed bag of performances that’s subjected to a mixed collection of violence sequences. At times, the horror is quite graphic and gut-wrenching, like forcing characters to eat glass or push their face into a bed of needles. However, in contrast, other scenes that are supposed to be highly intense are laughably bad, including a character biting their own arm off, punching a child, and violently throwing up VHS tapes. The tone of the film can be inconsistent and lack balance when taking itself so seriously while also dabbling in somewhat absurdist spaces.

It’s clear, though, that Choose or Die attempts to echo similarly styled thriller entertainment, ranging from Saw to Black Mirror. Unoriginal, perhaps, but co-creators Simon Allen and Toby Meakins have thought up a quite disturbing horror story - one that die-hard horror fans may appreciate, even if the general audiences do not. The duo have worked together extensively on short drama, fantasy, and horror films, making this debut step into feature filmmaking a commendable effort. Meakins' skill and capability in the director’s chair is highly evident, even if there’s room for considerable growth.

And this is ultimately where the conflict in my feelings about the film lies. Choose or Die doesn’t reach its full potential. The first 30 minutes hooks the audience into the game; that is, if they can stomach the gruesome mutilation that ensues. The rest of the remaining runtime sees the game breaking its own rules in hopes of escalating the horror, when in reality, this escalation in violence only offers an aggravating experience for the viewer. Yet, there’s enough style in the story to consistently hold my attention - no doubt a product of Meakins and Allen’s previous work together - making Choose or Die superficially appealing, but sensibly deficient.

In the end, it’s a film that fans of paranormal rule-based horror movies like Truth or Dare, Countdown, or the Final Destination franchise may appreciate. Not every horror film needs to be a masterclass on society, packed with vast character building arcs. Sometimes all the viewer needs is grotesque violence packaged in the guise of a cursed video game. In the case of Choose or Die, some will enjoy the thrill of it. Others won’t. Whether you’ll like it or not is for you to choose.

Acting and Casting - 1 | Visual Effects and Editing - 0 | Story and Message - 1 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 1 | What does this mean?