I loved so many things about this film, but the ending really ruined it for me.
It opened with exactly the dark psychological thriller vibe I was hoping for when I pressed play. I went in with pretty low expectations, so I was genuinely surprised by how quickly it pulled me in. When the story leaned further into horror, I was even more thrilled. The premise is inherently fun and quite exciting.
I really enjoyed watching the group dynamic unfold. Their bonding and loyalty to one another made everything feel more grounded. You can see how their curiosity slowly turns into obsession. Ray was easily the best character for me. He is probably the only one in the friend group wise enough not to dive headfirst into something so uncertain and irreversible. There is something refreshing about the one character who chooses to pause instead of plunge.
The tension works beautifully in parts, especially during the flatlining scenes. Those moments where one of them crosses over while the others scramble to bring them back are genuinely gripping. The atmosphere is eerie in a way that is actually enjoyable. I loved how their guilt began to manifest in increasingly horrifying forms. That was when the film felt bold and unsettling.
However, the redemption arc is where it lost me. The way they resolved their guilt felt far too easy and surface level. The emotional consequences that had been building so effectively were wrapped up with what felt like the bare minimum effort. It came across as shallow, maybe even lazy, as if the script was rushing to tie up loose ends instead of letting the weight of their actions linger. For a story that dealt with such heavy themes, the resolution felt empty.
Still, I cannot deny that this was a decent watch. It is not terrible, but it is not remarkable either. There is more to praise than to criticise, especially in its atmosphere and tension. I just wish it had trusted its own darkness enough to follow through all the way to the end.
I loved so many things about this film, but the ending really ruined it for me.
It opened with exactly the dark psychological thriller vibe I was hoping for when I pressed play. I went in with pretty low expectations, so I was genuinely surprised by how quickly it pulled me in. When the story leaned further into horror, I was even more thrilled. The premise is inherently fun and quite exciting.
I really enjoyed watching the group dynamic unfold. Their bonding and loyalty to one another made everything feel more grounded. You can see how their curiosity slowly turns into obsession. Ray was easily the best character for me. He is probably the only one in the friend group wise enough not to dive headfirst into something so uncertain and irreversible. There is something refreshing about the one character who chooses to pause instead of plunge.
The tension works beautifully in parts, especially during the flatlining scenes. Those moments where one of them crosses over while the others scramble to bring them back are genuinely gripping. The atmosphere is eerie in a way that is actually enjoyable. I loved how their guilt began to manifest in increasingly horrifying forms. That was when the film felt bold and unsettling.
However, the redemption arc is where it lost me. The way they resolved their guilt felt far too easy and surface level. The emotional consequences that had been building so effectively were wrapped up with what felt like the bare minimum effort. It came across as shallow, maybe even lazy, as if the script was rushing to tie up loose ends instead of letting the weight of their actions linger. For a story that dealt with such heavy themes, the resolution felt empty.
Still, I cannot deny that this was a decent watch. It is not terrible, but it is not remarkable either. There is more to praise than to criticise, especially in its atmosphere and tension. I just wish it had trusted its own darkness enough to follow through all the way to the end.
