Kelly Brook stars in this eerie thriller about 9 strangers who are taken from the streets and awaken to find themselves the participants in a chilling game.
The 9 contestants have been placed in a mansion house that is full of hidden cameras and microphones. The windows are bricked up and the doors are unbreakable. A man’s voice echoes throughout the hallways stating that only one person will leave alive and that they will be paid the sum of $5 million dollars for their troubles.
At first the contestants refuse to play the game but before long, paranoia, claustrophobia, bickering, bitching and backstabbing sees the game kick off in spectacular style and before long the 9 strangers soon get into the swing of things.
Dennis Hopper and Kelly Brook lead a largely unknown cast in a stylish psychological horror movie that keeps you guessing as the characters try desperately to find a way out.
The film looks great and feels like a big screen version of Cluedo, as a number of the ‘guests’ are bitchy socialites and artists.
There is the odd moment of overacting to be found, but the atmosphere is tense and the deaths are both shocking and often violent.
Kelly Brook does really well, even upstaging Hopper in his role of Father Michael, an Irish Priest. I don’t know if he was supposed to be an Irish American or not, but he sounded like one.
Ex Footballer’s Wives star Susie Amy also appears and is well cast as a snooty little madam who used to play pro tennis before her drinking habit took over her life, and rap star Asher D deserves similar acclaim for his portrayal of a stereotypical egotistical black man, as he manages to turn the part into a very dark and violent role.
The aesthetics are gorgeous, with a cold and murky vibe present throughout and the visual effects and stunt work are similarly well handled.
It’s a low key affair, but perhaps that’s why I enjoyed it so much.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Comparisons to the Cube series as well as My Little Eye are to be expected, but this nifty little thriller is far more attractive. It also explains why many of the Big Brother housemates are displaying signs of a nervous breakdown at the moment.
