Movie Review - De@th On Live

De@th On Live

2013

AKA: Channeling

Strategic Film Partners : Ace Entertainment Films UK

6 / 10

Once upon a time, there was Google Glass, which allowed you access to social media via a headband and a projector just above your eyes.  It also allowed you to take photo's and shoot videos.  The story that writer and director, Drew Thomas, gives the audience is one of the possible progressions of that technology.  He crafts an interesting tale that not only shows the positives but some of the many negatives for this type of tech, as it is directed more towards social media.  What would you do to increase viewers, ratings, and sponsorship?  Especially when more viewers gives the user more sponsorship money...

Wyatt Maddox (Taylor Handley) is out to have fun.  He and his partner Tara (Kate French) "Borrow" cars for races, which are aired live through Wyatt's eye-cam.  During one of these races, something goes wrong and Wyatt ends up dead.  This prompts the return of Jonah (Dominic DeVore), Wyatt's older brother who was serving overseas.  It's not long before he realises that all is not right with his brother's death and starts to investigate, by pretending to be Wyatt.

Though the story is intelligent and gripping there are times when the film falls flat.  These are mainly when the movie changes from action mode to drama.  I'm not saying that Thomas cannot film dramatic scenes as one of the best scenes stars Skyler Day as Jonah's and Wyatt's sister Ashleigh who has an epiphany about her use of the tech and her followers.  Skyler Day is also the strongest actor in the cast, definitely someone to keep an eye on.  However, Thomas is clearly more at home directing the action sequences as these are more powerful and controlled, as the trailer proves.  I also loved the opening sequence of the fake advert, which would really work well if you were watching on telly.

The acting is above average and most of the actors get behind their characters, though there are times when Kate French seems bored and uninterested at being there.  This along with the inconsistencies in pace does wound the movie.  However, it's worth at least one watch should you like mysteries, science fiction, or action thrillers.