Choose or Die (formerly CURS>R) is a horror thriller directed by Toby Meakins and released in 2022. Distributed by Netflix, Choose or Die stars Iola Evans, Asa Butterfield, and Eddie Marsan.
Kayla (Iola Evans) is a struggling student trying to better her life. Living in a struggling community with little familial support, Kayla makes her living as a cleaner while flipping old technology to collectors. When her friend, Isaac (Asa Butterfield), gives her a retro game to test, Kayla’s life changes forever.
What I Like
Choose or Die often has a muted color that reflects Kayla’s sleep-deprived state. The city feels dead and hopeless. A lack of extras hammers this point without the need of awkward dialogue. I am not certain if this was a creative choice, a budgeting necessity, or COVID practicality, but it traps the viewer with Kayla.
Kayla usually makes rational decisions despite the villainous game constantly exploiting her recent traumas. I would not particularly say she is clever or consistently rational, but her character avoids stupid decisions designed to call on her.
What I Dislike
The story drifts in a few directions that loosely tie to the plot. However, some of these elements required more attention and missed the mark. One plot point that comes to mind is the traumatic event that haunts Kayla quickly gets resolved for a film about overcoming these obstacles.
I prefer villainous games to have clever rules to subvert. Choose or Die does not deliver on this. In fairness, Choose or Die focuses on its character journey where the game acts more as an agent for her development.
Final Thoughts
Choose or Die combines retro gaming nostalgia with horror. While not a haunting film, it lingers because of an effectively oppressive environment. Some plot points need more attention from the film. The retro game aesthetic and engaging story provides an uncommon experience. For enthusiasts, the game will hit the mark. For the rest of us, it is simply another option with some good quality.
(2.5 / 5)
