A voice on the phone takes people on a life and death ride for cash prizes. Elliot Brindle is a meek nice-guy salesman expecting a promotion but gets fired instead. He cares for his mentally handicapped brother Michael. He's in debt and his girlfriend Shelby is pregnant. He's forced to take in his angry racist father who is getting evicted. He gets a phone call claiming that he's on a hidden camera show. The voice tells him that he could win prizes for completing 13 challenges. At first, the tasks are relatively easy and the money is real. Soon, manipulations force him to continue the dangerous game and any failure would take away the money already won. Police detective Chilcoat (Ron Perlman) takes on the seemingly random series of petty crimes by the same man.
This is a Blumhouse production and a remake of a Thai horror. It needs a bigger name in the Elliot lead. Also, Elliot is too deliberately oblivious. With the threat to take away his money, he should play it safe by taking out the cash and closing his account. Of course, the voice can come back by upping his credit card charges. At least, he needs to show the brains to try to resist. It's an intriguing high concept idea but little nagging issues do persist. It's not really about the 13 challenges but rather a changing personality. In that sense, I do see the concept bearing some fruits.
This is a Blumhouse production and a remake of a Thai horror. It needs a bigger name in the Elliot lead. Also, Elliot is too deliberately oblivious. With the threat to take away his money, he should play it safe by taking out the cash and closing his account. Of course, the voice can come back by upping his credit card charges. At least, he needs to show the brains to try to resist. It's an intriguing high concept idea but little nagging issues do persist. It's not really about the 13 challenges but rather a changing personality. In that sense, I do see the concept bearing some fruits.