Courtesy of IFC Midnight
Audiences have seen a boom in horror films that force characters into grisly games since the release of Saw in 2004. Movies that incorporate a “last man standing” plot in which only one can walk away after seeing their counterparts tortured. Escape Room. Circle. Even The Platform, to an extent. They all owe a little something to Jigsaw’s gruesome endeavors. One early example of this came in the form of a particularly nasty little movie dubbed Would You Rather. It also stars one of horror’s most beloved icons.
Jeffrey Combs, known for roles in films such as Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Castle Freak (1995), has often played slimy characters. But Would You Rather may be his most morally reprehensible portrayal yet. If you have the stomach for it, you can stream the film on Hulu.
What’s Would You Rather‘s Game?
Desperate to help her cancer-ridden brother, Iris (Brittany Snow) is ready to do whatever it takes. That opportunity arrives courtesy of wealthy snob, Shepard Lambrick (Combs). He claims that his family’s foundation can solve her problems. All she has to do is win a simple game of Would You Rather. But this isn’t the childhood version we all grew up with. In Lambrick’s game, each decision means life or death. Pitted against seven other contestants, Iris is about to find out just how ruthless she’s willing to be to save her brother’s life.
A Gruesome Indictment of the Wealthy Class
Upon arriving at Lambrick’s mansion, Iris encounters other guests who all have one thing in common…money problems. Director David Guy Levy builds up the bonds between the contestants before the event begins, only so that their eventual betrayal of one another strikes that much harder. Through making choices such as electrocuting themselves or another player, the billionaire’s game intends to crush their morality for a bag of cash. As Goth gal Amy (Sasha Grey) frequently reminds them, they’re playing against, not with, each other. Only one will walk away.
Dread’s own Tyler Doupe’ wrote that Would You Rather is an “unpredictable and nasty” film with “a pitch-black sense of humor that delivers scathing commentary on the ultra-wealthy.”
Would You Rather features a few stomach-churning images, but the true nastiness lies in the gut-wrenching portrayal of how wealth corrupts people. Combs excels as a slithering, snake-like human being. He represents an abusive class system that pushes the less fortunate into desperation. Iris wouldn’t even be in this situation if it weren’t for barriers within the healthcare system restricting poorer individuals like her brother from getting the treatment they need. We watch as she and others are broken down by the game, bit by bit, for a small taste of what Lambrick has to offer. The most infuriating part? He could help them all if he so chose. But what’s the fun in that for a cruel, greedy man like him?
Levy’s feature pummels the viewer like a prizefighter. By the time you reach the stunning conclusion, you feel worn out. Disgusted. Furious. No, it isn’t a pleasant film, but it’s sure as hell effective at what it aims to do. So, would you rather take a look at this shocker featuring an unforgettable performance by Combs on Hulu…or spend another night watching the same old thing? The choice is yours.
Categorized: News
