Stay Alive
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Forgettable thriller set in New Orleans about a group of gamers (Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong, Frankie Muniz, Sophia Bush and Jimmi Simpson) who race to unravel the mystery of a sinister video game -- possessed by a vengeful spirit -- after they start winding up dead, killed in the exact manner that they met their demise in the game. Director William Brent Bell borrows from Japanese horror films (minus their eerie moodiness) -- and their Hollywood remakes -- about haunted technology ("The Ring," "The Pulse," "One Missed Call"), padding his formulaic script with cybergore, resulting in a suspense film without much suspense -- or for that matter even decent chills. Recurring violence, including a graphic hanging and other disturbing images, bloody video-game images, a brief kinky sexual encounter with shadowy suggested nudity, fleeting drug content, an instance of rough language, as well as crude language and profanity. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (PG-13) 2006
"Stay Alive" (Buena Vista) is a forgettable thriller set in New Orleans about a group of gamers (Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong, Frankie Muniz, Sophia Bush and Jimmi Simpson) racing to unravel the mystery of a sinister video game that is possessed by a vengeful spirit. One by one, they are killed off in the exact manner that they met their demise in the game.
Director William Brent Bell borrows from Japanese horror films (minus their eerie moodiness) -- and their Hollywood remakes -- about haunted technology ("The Ring," "The Pulse," "One Missed Call"), padding his formulaic script with cybergore, resulting in a suspense film without much suspense -- or for that matter even decent chills.
Regrettably, the movie's targeted audience is young male adolescents -- at least the ones playing video games -- but the film's violence and a gratuitous sex scene make it unsuitable for teenagers. Even adults may find themselves waiting for the screen to flash "game over."
The film contains recurring violence, including a graphic hanging and other disturbing images, bloody video-game images, a brief kinky sexual encounter with shadowy suggested nudity, fleeting drug content, an instance of rough language, as well as crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.