Name: Choose or Die
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
Released: 2022-04-15T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Iola Evans, Asa Butterfield, Robert Englund, Angela Griffin, Ryan Gage

The opening scene of Choose or Die is a doozy: Kayla, a broke college dropout, fires up an obscure 1980s survival computer game, expecting a quick cash grab. What she gets instead is a cursed nightmare that blurs the line between pixels and reality. Directed by Toby Meakins in his feature debut, this Netflix Original horror-thriller-sci-fi hybrid has a premise that’s as bizarre as it is intriguing.

Iola Evans delivers a committed performance as Kayla, our protagonist who evolves from a desperate opportunist to a terrified survivor. Her arc is compelling, even if the script sometimes falters in making her choices feel entirely organic. Asa Butterfield, playing her tech-savvy friend Isaac, brings a grounded energy that balances out Evans’ more frantic moments. The supporting cast, including Eddie Marsan as Hal and Angela Griffin as Kayla’s troubled mother Thea, adds depth to the film’s exploration of trauma and desperation.

The film’s strength lies in its early sequences where the game’s curse manifests in unsettling ways—like a waitress eating broken glass or a giant rat attacking Kayla’s mom. These moments are visceral and creepy, leveraging practical effects and clever sound design to create tension. The retro aesthetic of the game itself is a standout, evoking nostalgia while also feeling sinister.

However, Choose or Die stumbles when it tries to weave its franchise-friendly storylines into the narrative. The pacing becomes uneven as the film juggles multiple subplots, including Kayla’s family drama and Isaac’s backstory. The transition from a contained horror experience to a broader mystery feels rushed, and some of the later reveals lack the impact they aim for.

The film also struggles with its tone. While it excels at moments of pure terror, it occasionally veers into territory that feels more like a conventional thriller, diluting its horror edge. The decision to include a voice cameo from Robert Englund as the “Terror Director” adds a layer of meta-commentary but doesn’t always serve the story.

Choose or Die has flickers of brilliance, particularly in its early acts and Evans’ performance. However, its ambition to set up a larger franchise undermines its potential as a standalone horror experience.