Movie Review: Stay Alive

Stay Alive
Summary: As survivor horror movies go this one wasn't too bad. The idea of a video game coming to life has been done before, but this was different enough to warrant a look. 2 out of 5 stars.

Survivor horror movies will never be taken seriously because of their subject matter. That's not to say that some of them aren't entertaining though. I quite enjoyed the Resident Evil series and felt it should be the blue print for movies based on video games, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Scream is in league of it's own and should be credited for keeping this genre alive. Stay Alive falls somewhere between both of these. It's based inside of a video game, and the characters are running for their lives throughout the film with hidden dangers around every corner. Unlike these other movies it's based on real life characters. Countess Elizabeth Bathory was a very wicked lady indeed. She was obsessed with maintaining her youthful appearance so she got this idea that if she bathed in the blood of virgin girls she would remain young forever. Yikes! She is credited with the kidnapping and death of over 800 young women in the early 1600's. She was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in her castle.
The movie follows the story of 5 "gamers" who come accross this underground game after their friend dies a grisly death in an apparent murder suicide. They would later learn that he died exactly the way his character died in the video game Stay Alive. Of course the cops don't believe the kids and instead suspects them of the murders, so they not only have to stop this crazy countess Bathory from lopping their heads off, they have to elude the cops while doing it! Normally I would complain about movies being unbelievable but this one gets a pass because its based in the video game world. Some things will leave you scratching your head, like how some people are killed even though they never played the game. Hmmm......
They guy from Hero's makes a brief appearance (the nurse) but he's the first one killed. What's wrong with that guys mouth anyway? Frankie Muniz has one of the leading characters and he plays a geek just like he did in the sitcom. Overall the actors did a pretty good job. The lead detective is also the guy from Need For Speed Most Wanted. He plays the cop in that game too. Real cocky SOB! There's only one brief nude scene in the theatrical release but I hear the director's cut would have garnered an "R" rating instead of PG-13 so mabye you'll want to check that one out instead.
For what it is Stay Alive was pretty good. Not the best, nor was it the worst. I wouldn't pay to see it in a movie theatre but it's worth a rental.

DT