ThiefHott Too much of everything

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

vrodgers-26960 These are exciting times in the world of scary movies in that women are making their mark in the genre as writers, producers and directors of horror films. Among them is Jessica Cameron, who co-wrote, with Jonathan Scott Higgins, and directed "Truth or Dare" and took it on a successful worldwide tour of festivals in which the movie garnered 19 awards.It is an understatement to call "Truth or Dare" a cautionary tale, presenting a terrifying story of the dark, vicious underbelly of fame delivered at the hands of social media. Those who covet thy busy cyber traffic may have to deal with not only the relatively sane fans, but the downright demented ones as well.Six college students -- three couples actually -- have hit the jackpot with their "Truth or Dare" video streams that offer a violent twist. They especially draw attention when one of them, Tony (Brandon Van Vliet) may have been fatally shot by fellow Truth or Daredevil Jennifer (Cameron). The group subsequently appears on a talk show and brings out Tony to show he really was not killed.In the audience at the talk show is a self-professed No. 1 fan of the "Truth or Dare" videos, Derik (Kiser, who also stars as Charles Manson in "House of Manson"). When he makes a scene in trying to be recruited into the group, he is banished from the building.Later, the group reconvenes at a secluded home purchased by John (Jesse Wilson), who has set up a studio in which to video the next episodes of their show. Aside from John, Jennifer and Tony, the group includes John's girlfriend Courtney (Devanny Pinn, so unnerving as Susan Atkins in "House of Manson"), Tony's girlfriend Michelle (Heather Dorff) and Jennifer's boyfriend Ray (Shelby Stehlin).Just as the Truth or Daredevils begin to work on their next show, who should crash in on them but their No. 1 fan, Derik. Armed and certainly dangerous, Derik gets the upper hand and demands that they continue their "Truth or Dare" game, but under his rules.With one member of the group already "out of the game" (in other words, no longer breathing), the group has no choice but to concede to Derik's decrees.Unfortunately, in Derik's opinion, the show lacks structure and realism and he believes this cheats the fans. So he is here to fix things.In the first round of the game, the five remaining Truth or Daredevils opt for truth rather than dares. But this turns ugly.As in other horror movies in which viewers have to dispense with disbelief and accept that killers like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger never die despite all the weapons and artillery used on them, "Truth or Dare" at this point forces the viewer to believe that Derik has managed to dig up deep secrets the Truth or Daredevils have been keeping from each other (even their lovers).Of course, some of these secrets are pretty bad and it leads to, well, discord among the group members. So naturally in the ensuing rounds they opt for dares rather than truths.And that's when it gets really brutal.You can develop a grudging admiration for Derik's madness. This guy is focused on his mission. As he says, "Truth or Dare" "belongs to the fans" and it is the obligation of the Truth or Daredevils to give them a bloody good show. And Derik's sick creativity helps achieve this goal. Each round gets more brutal. And even if these people survive the dares they are irreparably damaged.Of the group, Jennifer and Michelle are the gutsiest. Indeed, when Jennifer completes a dare without batting an eye, it seems she might be momentarily getting into the gory spirit of the proceedings. Later Jennifer and Michelle are the only ones to actually attempt to physically derail Derik's efforts."Truth or Dare" comes with a warning. This is uncompromising violence and not for the casual horror fans who enjoy films that that make them jump or feel uneasy. This movie does flat out dare you to watch, and even the most hardcore fans of this genre will find themselves of accelerated heart rates, possibly sweating and shaking, at the conclusion of the film. But then dare yourself NOT to watch it again. You might lose that dare.

gjb1966 "Six college kids find internet stardom when they make "Truth or Dare" videos with a violent twist. It is all fun and games until their number one fan decides he wants to play by his own rules." To say more about the plot of the movie would give too much away. It's far better to go in cold. I saw this film in London at FrightFest 2014 and was blown away. A great story backed up by excellent direction and a mesmerising cast. The film has real wince inducing moments for male and female audience members alike, some very sick humour which the whole audience loved and some great practical FX. Ryan Kiser as Derik is a whirlwind of emotions and insanity and carries the film along at breakneck speed but all the cast have their standout moments. Try to see this with an audience but definitely do not miss it.

catatonic_cutie In Truth or Dare, the Truth or Daredevils find notoriety on the internet with vial videos based on the infamous party game truth or dare. And they are pretty good at what they do. The group is invited on talk shows and has a modicum of fame as an internet sensation. But one dedicated, more like obsessed fan, decides to help the Daredevils and improve their videos by making them more realistic. Once Derik, played by Ryan Kiser, inserts himself into the Daredevils' lives horrible things happen. This is a movie that my parents would be ashamed of me for watching. And I mean that in a good way! Truth of Dare has extreme images of violence and torture for each of the characters. For a first time director on a film she also co-wrote, Cameron does an excellent job of using the set for mood and reeling the viewer in as well as choosing what to show and when to cut away. I also appreciated her choice to keep her actors mostly clothed. It was another choice that allowed for me to relate to the characters instead of being distracted (or frustrated) by superfluous skin. This movie was terrifying enough without adding more potentially triggering imagery. That said, I did squirm in my seat during Truth or Dare. While this movie has a few laughs, I hope the audience laughter at certain horrifying moments was because we were all a bit uncomfortable. Truth or Dare uses the issue of internet fame as the impetus for the action. In time when anyone can make and produce videos, and gain fans, the chance of having "the wrong fan" latch on to you or your show would be a concern. This is especially true when you are probably unable to afford the security guards or employ other barriers to protect yourself. Truth or Dare takes this potential threat to the extreme with a delusional fan that takes truths and dares very, very seriously. I saw Truth or Dare at Crypticon in Seattle followed by a Q&A with Jessica Cameron. If you have a similar opportunity you should take it. Strong film and talented director and great cast.

dr_catsu Review of 'Truth or Dare' (2014) Indie horror can be a difficult sell. There are those of us who cut our teeth in the genre when it was still essentially a homebrew industry, when huge amounts of money were made by movies produced by innovative kids with nothing more than a camera and inspiration. In recent years major studios have acknowledged the financial viability of horror movies and given us a raft of films that, whilst commercially successful, were watered-down imitations of the works we love. The colour palette changed to a sickly green-brown and violence became graphic for graphic's sake; shock value by gore and grue rather than by quality storytelling and atmosphere. Occasionally, an indie movie gets the mainstream recognition it deserves and gives its stars their break, a la the Soskas and 'American Mary'; more frequently one is marketed well and gains a mainstream audience who then find it to be derivative and boring tosh and the whole indie movement is pushed back into financial hibernation once again. It is into this market that Small Town Girl Productions releases Jessica Cameron's directorial debut 'Truth or Dare'. Whilst it's not in the same league as 'American Mary', and not much is in my opinion, it shows real promise from a fledgling talent.Like most low-budget horror, 'Truth or Dare' works within the parameters of a simple premise; an internet stunt show called 'Truth or Dare' posts videos pertaining to show cast members playing the eponymous game resulting in orchestrated faux-violence. The show gains notoriety by blurring the lines between reality and fiction, and when the group meet up at an isolated house to film their latest segment they are joined by Derik, a crazed fan who believes that true success can only be achieved by playing the game for real.The first thing to say about 'Truth or Dare' is that the plot is very thin in places; the opening act hits the beats you expect and characters respond according to type. As things progress, there are a number of revelations opening up some seriously interesting territory that are never really explored or additionally referenced. In fact it is easy to see the entire thing simply as an excuse for unpleasant people being made to do unpleasant things to each other by someone more unpleasant. The majority of the big reveals come via a single character who knows everyone's darkest, oldest secrets through means that are never explained beyond the 'I-am-your-biggest-fan' cliché. Still this is a low-budget indie horror and, as fans, we look past trite or wafer thin plotting to judge our chosen niche on its own merits. Despite my reservations about the convenient nature of the plot twists, I really enjoyed 'Truth or Dare'.The most striking thing is just how gory it is. There are some really gruesome deaths, both practically and emotionally, as the film progresses and the cast are forced to more extreme lengths to survive. Hardened as I am to genre flicks, there were a couple of scenes that were genuinely hard to watch; in much the same way that 'The Human Centipede' came out of a drunken conversation Tom Six had with his friends about how to punish sex offenders, I wonder if a similar discussion didn't give rise to some of the violence conceived of by Jessica Cameron and writing partner Jonathan Higgins. I admit to finding the opening half or so a little predictable but beyond that it seems like they were trying to constantly outdo themselves, both in terms of the graphic nature of the violence and of the cruelty on show. Cameron makes use of some excellent make-up effects, creative sound design, and quick edits to you leave with the impression that you have seen more than you actually have; a combination that serves to effectively disguise budgetary constraints.For an indie feature the actors are also excellent. Whilst the plot hints at some real emotional depth and conflict to these characters, it never really materialises and the cast do well with what they have. Cameron herself takes top billing as Jennifer and her performance is perfectly fine if unconvincing by comparison; the real stars of the show are Heather Dorff as Michelle and Devanny Pinn as Courtney who generate some real sympathy once the suffering starts. The male cast are also solid although their roles feel more truncated than their female counterparts, especially the excellent Brandon Van Vliet as Tony who is surprisingly likable given what his character is forced to admit. Special mention must also go to Ryan Kiser as superfan Derik; crazy is difficult to play and, whilst there were times when his performance was a little too manic for my taste, he does a great job of creating a wide-eyed, gleeful antagonist.'Truth or Dare' is a really fun movie; it's gruesome, has some very unusual deaths, and great special effects. Yes, the opening scenes are predictable and yes, the plot is very thin, but the sheer extent of different ideas thrown at the screen should be applauded. I suspect that this is exactly the film that Jessica Cameron set out to make too – a nasty, fun, low-budget indie horror movie – and her direction shows a good eye and real promise. As of writing 'Truth or Dare' is yet to secure a UK distribution deal and, sadly, may prove difficult to see on these shores. This is a shame as there is a sizeable market for this kind of film and I feel that it would do well; it won't win awards for its script but in terms of the amount of on screen carnage, in terms of shock value, and in terms of showing us the first beats of an interesting new director, 'Truth or Dare' comes highly recommended.