Dir. by Robert Heath
Starring: Jenny Jacques, Florence Hall, Tom Kane, David Oakes

*May Contain Spoilers*

Truth or Die is a British “torture porn” horror film. It’s also my guilty pleasure movie. I don’t usually watch the types of movie dubbed “torture porn.” I haven’t seen Hostel or Saw or The Human Centipede or anything like that (though, if there’s enough interest, I will watch and review them). This movie, though, I love. I bet it’s because of hot British guys (I’m sorry, I know that’s really shallow…)

What’s it about?
The movie opens to a college party. A group of five friends are having a good time, taking shots and snorting coke. Enter Felix (Kane), who wants nothing more than to confess his love to Gemma (Hall). When she turns him down, things get worse for Felix as the night goes on. Fast forward six months when the five friends are headed to Felix’s birthday party in his gorgeous country home.

They are greeted by Justin (Oakes), Felix’s brother, but Felix is nowhere to be seen. They stay to drink and have fun, but Justin has something else in mind. Revenge for his brother and a little game of truth or dare.

What did I think?
This movie is very formulaic. It follows the conventions of a regular cabin in the woods, torture porn movie. A group of friends find themselves isolated and vulnerable and they have to survive despite the fact that they’re trapped with a psychopath on the loose. That being said, there are several moments in the film where you have to suspend your disbelief.

First, when the friends arrive at the house, they’re told the party is in a cabin on the back of the property. They have to walk a half mile on a rough path through the forest to get here. No. They didn’t like Felix, as could be seen at the beginning of the movie. Why would they make that much effort to go to this party? They said they were just there for the free booze. It doesn’t seem worth it.

Second, Justin puts his trust in Luke (Alexander Vlahos), who just goes along with everything he says. At first it makes sense, because he’s afraid of what Justin will do to him, but later on, he had plenty of opportunities for sabotage. It doesn’t make sense that Justin would give Luke so much freedom to begin with, but it makes even less sense that Luke wouldn’t use that to his advantage. I mean, seriously, dude. Your friends are being tortured.

That being said, the actors all did an amazing job in the parts they were given. Tom Kane made my heart ache. David Oakes played the villain very well. He was believable in his motive and easily pulled off Justin’s psychopathic behavior. Jenny Jacques, who plays Eleanor, is just the right amount of bitchy and vengeful. Florence Hall played the naive blonde just right, too. The cast was great.

The story itself needed some work.

Do I recommend it?
It’s my guilty pleasure movie for reasons listed above, but it’s a formulaic, predictable film that doesn’t incite any feelings of fear or disgust. It’s basically the British version of Would Your Rather, but with a different party game. I didn’t recommend that movie to you guys, so I don’t think I’m going to recommend this movie either… unless you like to look at hot British people. Then have at it.