Sadly Over-hyped

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Completely garbage! How many times are you going to ask about sex? It started out pretty good, then just went downhill after the first ten minutes. The acting was really bad for most of the film, a few scenes were believable. Quality for a film made only 5 years ago, was horrible. Usually when the director stars in their own film, it's going to be a bad movie, and this was the exact outcome. If you are squeemish I highly suggest you stay away from this movie.

When I review movies I always take into consideration things like budget, resources, and experience. Truth or Dare is the essence of independent cinema. Jessica made the movie she wanted and poured her heart into it and it shows. While her movie had a micro budget she was able to quite effectively create a brutally scary movie strictly on the power of good story telling and the psychological aspects of gruesomeness she portrays on screen.While I found the truth portions of this movie more entertaining than the dare portions, I have to say both portions left me entertained. It was like watching a soap opera with gore, and I mean that in a good way.

Review of 'Truth or Dare' (2014) Indie horror can be a difficult sell. There are those of us who cut our teeth in the genre when it was still essentially a homebrew industry, when huge amounts of money were made by movies produced by innovative kids with nothing more than a camera and inspiration. In recent years major studios have acknowledged the financial viability of horror movies and given us a raft of films that, whilst commercially successful, were watered-down imitations of the works we love. The colour palette changed to a sickly green-brown and violence became graphic for graphic's sake; shock value by gore and grue rather than by quality storytelling and atmosphere. Occasionally, an indie movie gets the mainstream recognition it deserves and gives its stars their break, a la the Soskas and 'American Mary'; more frequently one is marketed well and gains a mainstream audience who then find it to be derivative and boring tosh and the whole indie movement is pushed back into financial hibernation once again. It is into this market that Small Town Girl Productions releases Jessica Cameron's directorial debut 'Truth or Dare'. Whilst it's not in the same league as 'American Mary', and not much is in my opinion, it shows real promise from a fledgling talent.Like most low-budget horror, 'Truth or Dare' works within the parameters of a simple premise; an internet stunt show called 'Truth or Dare' posts videos pertaining to show cast members playing the eponymous game resulting in orchestrated faux-violence. The show gains notoriety by blurring the lines between reality and fiction, and when the group meet up at an isolated house to film their latest segment they are joined by Derik, a crazed fan who believes that true success can only be achieved by playing the game for real.The first thing to say about 'Truth or Dare' is that the plot is very thin in places; the opening act hits the beats you expect and characters respond according to type. As things progress, there are a number of revelations opening up some seriously interesting territory that are never really explored or additionally referenced. In fact it is easy to see the entire thing simply as an excuse for unpleasant people being made to do unpleasant things to each other by someone more unpleasant. The majority of the big reveals come via a single character who knows everyone's darkest, oldest secrets through means that are never explained beyond the 'I-am-your-biggest-fan' cliché. Still this is a low-budget indie horror and, as fans, we look past trite or wafer thin plotting to judge our chosen niche on its own merits. Despite my reservations about the convenient nature of the plot twists, I really enjoyed 'Truth or Dare'.The most striking thing is just how gory it is. There are some really gruesome deaths, both practically and emotionally, as the film progresses and the cast are forced to more extreme lengths to survive. Hardened as I am to genre flicks, there were a couple of scenes that were genuinely hard to watch; in much the same way that 'The Human Centipede' came out of a drunken conversation Tom Six had with his friends about how to punish sex offenders, I wonder if a similar discussion didn't give rise to some of the violence conceived of by Jessica Cameron and writing partner Jonathan Higgins. I admit to finding the opening half or so a little predictable but beyond that it seems like they were trying to constantly outdo themselves, both in terms of the graphic nature of the violence and of the cruelty on show. Cameron makes use of some excellent make-up effects, creative sound design, and quick edits to you leave with the impression that you have seen more than you actually have; a combination that serves to effectively disguise budgetary constraints.For an indie feature the actors are also excellent. Whilst the plot hints at some real emotional depth and conflict to these characters, it never really materialises and the cast do well with what they have. Cameron herself takes top billing as Jennifer and her performance is perfectly fine if unconvincing by comparison; the real stars of the show are Heather Dorff as Michelle and Devanny Pinn as Courtney who generate some real sympathy once the suffering starts. The male cast are also solid although their roles feel more truncated than their female counterparts, especially the excellent Brandon Van Vliet as Tony who is surprisingly likable given what his character is forced to admit. Special mention must also go to Ryan Kiser as superfan Derik; crazy is difficult to play and, whilst there were times when his performance was a little too manic for my taste, he does a great job of creating a wide-eyed, gleeful antagonist.'Truth or Dare' is a really fun movie; it's gruesome, has some very unusual deaths, and great special effects. Yes, the opening scenes are predictable and yes, the plot is very thin, but the sheer extent of different ideas thrown at the screen should be applauded. I suspect that this is exactly the film that Jessica Cameron set out to make too – a nasty, fun, low-budget indie horror movie – and her direction shows a good eye and real promise. As of writing 'Truth or Dare' is yet to secure a UK distribution deal and, sadly, may prove difficult to see on these shores. This is a shame as there is a sizeable market for this kind of film and I feel that it would do well; it won't win awards for its script but in terms of the amount of on screen carnage, in terms of shock value, and in terms of showing us the first beats of an interesting new director, 'Truth or Dare' comes highly recommended.

I will keep this review a spoiler-free as possible, but some amount of divulging will no doubt occur so you've been warned.I first saw Jessica Cameron at the 2013 Fatality Fest in Florida, and heard about her new film 'Truth or Dare.' There was a fund raiser in progress and after meeting her, reading about the film and watching the trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8J7qVONFmE - warning it's a "red band trailer so not safe for kids) I decided to donate. However, I didn't get to see the film as it is still on the festival circuit at that time and still is today.Now, many festivals and dozens of awards later, I was finally able to see this horror film at Immersed in Ink's Tinley Park Tattoo Arts & Horror Festival yesterday (4/19/14). In fact, I ended up seeing several screenings during the day, and it's indeed one of those films that demands multiple viewings if for no other reason to test the endurance of your friends to see when they will cry uncle.I only knew initially that the movie was about a group of friends playing a real game of bloody, gory "truth or dare." The how/why they would do this was a mystery and things quickly click into place.The film is a commentary on our culture's incessant narcissism, celebrity obsession and viral video addiction. These "daredevils" have created a national outcry over their videos purporting to show actual deaths resulting from vicious versions of this game.What transpires is one of the bloodiest, sickest films I've ever seen. The f/x are top notch for a low budget indie. I could almost taste the copper from the blood. The truths reveal the lies we keep from even our closest friends (I definitely will NOT spoil those) and the "dares" get more vicious and brutal from round to round. Throughout there's some decent humor that made myself and many attendees laugh out loud multiple times.If you enjoy sick, twisted horror (such as works by Jimmyo Burril & April "Chainsaw Sally" Burril, Debbie Rochon or the Soska Sisters, Jen & Sylvia) you'll be right at home. If you laugh as flesh is cut and people are brutally wounded, maimed, etc. this film is one to support. Go see it at a film festival, buy it when it's out and give it reviews. Let the big studios know the horror community supports both strong female writers/actresses/directors and boundary-pushing horror/gore.For too long the industry has celebrated male artists while ignoring women (in general and horror specifically). As a horror author who's come to know many of these artists I've referenced, I stand firmly behind the next generation of horror leaders - strong female voices who demand our attention and respect... or else.Is this film for everyone? No. But I'm telling you it's WELL worth the ride. And like any good roller coaster, you'll be a wreck afterward and then ready to go again.***Spoiler warning*** Delving in the game that takes up the majority of the film, I wanted to express my sincere admiration for Jessica Cameron's vision and direction of this brutal film. Others would have pulled back from some of the gore/violence, but she pushed forward into each logical next step.The film opens with the team's most recent episode which involved a variation of Russian roulette that appears to go wrong. Milking the controversy, the "victim" actually goes into hiding for awhile to add to the "reality" that he's really died.What follows from those events, when faced by their #1 one fan/fanatic who desperately wants to join them, they are forced to play the game for real. He knows more about them then they know about each other and delivers brutal punishments for those trying to avoid the truth.Unlike most films, the women are the real standouts here and I was really struck by both Heather Dorff and director Jessica Cameron's characters who are not the cookie cutter women we normally see in horror films. I would NOT want to play this game with either them despite considering them peers and friends. I wouldn't last to round two.While most people will focus on the brutal dares, many of the audience members in the screenings I attended were sickened by the revealed truths. And cleverly, despite being essentially forced at gun point to play to the death, the truths some reveal feed into executing the dares.I liked the realism in the writing. All of the brutal actions, in particular some so spectacularly awful I would never dare to reveal them, were researched for accuracy by Jessica. I also liked the simple attention to detail of the events being film on alternating memory cards and uploaded as the game progressed. Many films skip even the simple reality of things, but this felt natural and "real" in terms of what would be occurring.And the killer constantly checking their "views" and comments of each new scene was both realistic and hilarious. The obsession with "going viral," view counts and viewer comments in today's world is skewered over and over much like the participants.As I disclosed, I am a horror author who calls these folks peers and friends, but I still take a critical eye to all films I watch. In fact, out of respect to my friends, I would honestly say I hold their work to a higher standard than others. Just as I would expect them to comment on my work and drive me to be my best that's who I approach things.I can easily say that this film is a sick one that I love and am proud to have had any part in supporting and promoting. I expect to see a lot more of Jessica, and Heather, in the future and the horror world will be the better and bloodier for that!