The brothers were completely unlikable which made the rest of what was going on sort of a moot point. 3/10.
Listening
2014
Action / Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Listening
2014
Action / Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
A team of genius-but-broke grad students invent mind-reading technology that destroys their lives and threatens the future of free will itself.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Bleh
THOUGHT IS A STRONGER REALITY THAN THE WORLD AROUND US
David Thorogood (Thomas Stoppel) and Ryan Cates (Artie Ahr) are performing unauthorized computer mind reading experiments with "borrowed" equipment from the university they attend. They are both dirt poor. Ryan cares for his invalid grandmother (Erma Sullins) while David is behind on his rent. His wife (Christine Haeberman) and child (Mykayla Sohn) are being neglected. Ryan meets Jordan (Amber Marie Bollinger) and brings her into the group.
The government, of which we get glimpses, gets involved and things change.
I liked this "low budget" sci-fi indy. It had characters I could relate to. Like good sci-fi it asks questions. In this one it is about government surveillance and control. Where does free will lie? If the government could read and control thoughts, would they? This film is built upon our current government surveillance and Edward Snowden...traitor or patriot? And who was Earle M. Jorgensen?
I didn't know that neurons snap and crackle like electricity and lightning.
Guide: A couple of F-bombs. No sex. Nipple slip ( Christine Haeberman) PG-13 stuff
Almost great
The movie is written and directed by the same guy. That usually means that if it's going to be bad, it's going to be really bad. Good news: it's not bad. But it's not that great either.
The story follows two students researching brain communication. Of course the bad guys are interested in this and they are already in trouble as they have been using stolen lab equipment from their university. More than that, there are marital problems as well. This could have been a good idea if not for the paint-by-numbers story, which is obviously written by somebody who went to writing class, but didn't have the time to develop their own style.
The good part about the film is that the actors play well, the direction is reasonable - although I don't know why every damn frame has to have lens flares (another reason to hate J.J., probably) and the story is captivating. The only major problem is the lackluster script. Everything gets revealed way too soon and in the moments where tension was needed, story gets resolved by impossible means.
Bottom line: nothing in this film is great, but it had something, a potential that somehow failed to get realized. Good start, interesting second act, confusing third and a really really bad ending.