Truth or Die (2012) Poster

(II) (2012)

User Reviews

Review this title
66 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
7/10
Truthfully better than expected
movieman_kev8 May 2013
A small group of young adults all gather at what they believe to be the party of a mutual 'friend', the same boy who was humiliated years earlier. When they arrive they find that he isn't there, but his brother suggests that they all party regardless. A game of truth and dare brings out the brother's true agenda. Now the small group of kids are in for the deadliest game of their lives.

I thought I was in for yet another in the endless parade of heavily clichéd boring little teen- scream flicks, but I found myself pleasantly surprised when I found a reasonably well- acted tense little yarn that had loftier goals than the average brain-dead teen slashes genre could usually muster. So despite a few plot holes that I found easy to overlook, I was quite content with this viewing experience.
25 out of 28 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Suspenseful riff on the 'one room' thriller genre
Leofwine_draca10 January 2013
A surprisingly decent low budget horror/thriller combo. Although the general set-up of the film is based on a SAW-style premise, the film works thanks to an inventive script, some well-drawn characters and top acting.

Standing head and shoulders above the other cast members is David Oakes (THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH), playing an ex-soldier determined to find out the truth behind his brother's suicide. To this end, he invites a group of schoolmates to a rural shack to begin a deadly game of truth or dare.

This is essentially a 'one room' thriller which keeps you guessing as to the fates of the central characters and indeed has you on the edge of your seat throughout. The story feels fresh and the characters drawn from real life; better still, I was so engaged in what I was watching that I wanted to find out what happened next. In other words, I was hooked.

A handful of decent turns by the other actors (Jennie Jacques, Jack Gordon, Florence Hall), some gruesome set-pieces that don't go over the top with depictions of torture, and a twist ending that works are all features that help make this a film that rises above genre standards to offer suspenseful, thrilling entertainment.
20 out of 24 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Not a bad British teen revenge horror.
Michael-Hallows-Eve20 August 2012
This movie was actually a nice little surprise for me. I started watching it thinking, "here we go, another teen revenge horror". But once it got going it went well. The "spin the bottle/truth or dare" thing actually worked for me. The movie had a couple of surprises and there was a bit of a plot twist near the end. The characters were actually played well as they were annoying, but in a good way as I was waiting for things to happen to them, but intrigued to see how they would react. And at the end the film doesn't end the way you would think, as it didn't have the usual ending that a lot of these kind of teen horror movies have, and that was a good thing as I wasn't expecting it. So I give this film a 7 out of 10.
24 out of 36 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Revenge for the Fittest
adam-18944 September 2012
When the movie began, I wondered if I was watching a British version of the 1987 classic "Slaughter High." A teenage prank goes wrong and a year or two later the tormentors are all invited to a "reunion." They arrive only to discover they're the only ones present. To make things stranger, our antagonists are forced to walk through a muddy path that leads to an old cabin despite the fact that the manor was clearly deserted.

However as soon as they meet the brother of the one they victimized and begin playing the same game used to humiliate him (a mix of Truth or Dare and Spin the Bottle) This is when the feeling of dread begins to mount and it doesn't let up until the end.

Overall, it was suspenseful, yet a few illogical inconsistencies require a fair amount of willing suspension of disbelief.

My Rating

C +
15 out of 21 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Superisingly slick and well shot mild horror flick
thekarmicnomad27 November 2012
Lets get the bad out the way first. The plot is as old as the hills and for everything to fall into place the characters have to make some shockingly bad life choices. The budget is not massive and sometimes its shows.

But saying that i really enjoyed this film. The acting is very solid, the antagonist is very believable. The rest of the cast deliver sterling performances and despite zero nudity the female cast are as sexy as hell.

The real star of the show though is the camera work. The majority of the shooting is stylish, well lit and well composed. Even the obligatory spinning of the bottle has a certain beauty about it.

The violence is brutal without being sickening (no one goes all 'Hostel') and there are numerous tense moments. The soundtrack is pretty good as are sets and locations.

The plot starts to unravel near the end (like 90% of horrors) but keeps it together enough not to spoil it.

A very slick and professional film considering the budget.
10 out of 13 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Trigger warnings
Pnkprinses30918 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Obviously the twist is why Gemma had to die and the worst character El lived. However this movie made it so that the most innocent characters are tortured, raped, hung, and killed while the worst get away.

Eleanor literally provoked the game, made this already humiliated kid be sexual with her bf against both of their wills and got to live.

Gemma was kind and tried to defuse every situation. She was empathetic to everyone and never mean, intelligent, resourceful, and the only one nice to Felix. She dies. Like what?!
9 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Alright but....
Sarsman28 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Spoiler alert.

Good film. All the characters are deeply unlikeable, and actually you are not that fussed about them dying. You're actually on the side of the psycho for a while. One thing that has been mentioned is why someone looks up the police emergency on the net. I think it's actually supposed to be that there is no phone line only internet so she is trying to alert police that way. The part that unsettles and what I object to, is why does the rapist not get her just desserts? She basically rapes two blokes or rather forces one to rape the other.... Would have been happier if it was long suffering boyfriend only that survived. The storyline is quite good, would have benefited from better more engaging actors. Good to pass the time but don't base your night around it.
6 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
One of the biggest loads of dreck I've seen
cballew-3179015 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's ok if you bully, rape, humiliate, blackmail someone into attempted suicide but then kill him when he's a victim again crippled by the failed attempt. Then you blow him up. Yep, bullying's cool and makes you a big darn hero. But, hey, who cares? Eliminated the weak right? Ok to pick on the strange? Demean him even after they thought he was dead? Poor kid never stopped being used and abused by everyone in his life, and doesn't even get a semi-dignified ending with the worst person of the entire movie (Chris being a close second dies fairly satisfactorily). I don't care if the message is that sometimes evil wins. I've seen movies satisfyingly end that way. But, in an era where increased awareness is out there about the dangers of bullying as a major cause of suicide and desperate actions, this movie is makes the bullied to be heroes and victims where the victim is made to constantly suffer. What a great message to publicize.
7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
80's nostalgia meets present day torture
Coventry8 April 2012
There's a neat portion of 80's nostalgia to enjoy in this modest horror production by the British director Robert Heath. Surely we all love to remember those typically clichéd and nasty slashers in which the geekiest kid in school, preferably on prom night or during any random party night, is publicly humiliated (or even killed) during a banal prank that horribly runs out of hand. A certain time later, he himself or a traumatized family member goes on a vengeful killing spree to punish all the wrongdoers. That pretty much summarizes "Truth or Dare"; unoriginal, unmemorable and predictable from start to finish, but nonetheless entertaining. Several months ago, during a graduation party full of sex and drug-abuse, the timid and introvert Felix unsuccessfully declared his love to the cute blond Gemma whilst playing a spin-the- bottle/truth or dare game and got into a fight with her macho boyfriend Chris. Now, all the key players of this humiliating moment receive an invitation for Felix' birthday party at his parent's secluded country estate, and since they're a bunch of sleazy British teenagers always in search of free booze, they all decide to accept. They're welcomed by Felix' brother Justin, an obsessive military man, in a ramshackle cabin and he immediately confronts them with a genuine party-pooping message. Allegedly Felix committed suicide, and since Justin established that this quintet is directly responsible for his act of desperation, he's destined to extract vengeance and restore the family honor! "Truth or Dare" is actually more of a crossover between the aforementioned kind of 80's slasher with the nowadays hugely popular trend of torture porn horror. The killer immediately reveals his identity and motivations, but his methods of retaliation are more imaginative and "playful", like for example the challenge where the victim either drinks ordinary water or deadly battery acid. You won't feel much affection for any of the character, whether victim or psychopath, and some of them are in fact so stupid and insufferable that you almost wish for them to die cruel and painfully (which also happens!). Although the events are foreseeable and often even downright obvious, director Robert Heath still manages to generate a handful of suspenseful moments. And finally, just because it fun to mention, the young actress Jennie Jacques is an incredibly sexy chick and her impressive cleavage can be admired throughout the entire film!
29 out of 48 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Yeah, I'll absolutely give away the ending
queeroid7 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This film isn't worth watching. At its core, it's a British torture porn flick (and a mild one at that, as far as torture porn goes) that's not-subtly-at-all about homophobia and, on a more surface level, bullying and greed.

The character at the center of this all is bullied by a group of awful people, who also have one decent person in their friendship circle (because the movie had to have at least one, otherwise she'd never give any of these people the time of day under normal circumstances). When he's humiliated more than once in an evening, including both physical and sexual assault, and blackmailed for money as a result of it... he eventually attempts suicide, but survives with severe damage leaving him mute and mostly immobile.

His older brother, the army vet who can't stand even the mention of anything remotely "queer," decides the awful people deserve a game of Psycho Truth or Dare in response to their actions toward his brother. So, the long and the short of it is:

  • Battery acid shows up a few times. And there are some off-camera gun shots. But if you're watching this for the gore, skip it.


  • Everybody except for two of the awful people end up dead, including the worst of the bunch. So, if you're watching it for revenge, skip it.


  • Lastly, damn near every line uttered is ridiculous. So, if you're looking for a decent character study, skip the hell out of this one.
4 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
bloody mental
mocktheweek316 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This i thought from the moment it began that it would be yet another one of these indi horror film that tries to make a point about the world we live in. That being said i was pleasantly surprised with the overall story. spoiler alert

there was a moment towards the end of the film were you think who is wrong here,and you begin to swap sides briefly. but by the end of the film when the final deed is done. Well it left me slightly thinking (and excuse my language) but what a tremendous bitch she is. she was the cause of the film, and she was for some reason the winner at the end.

Ahh well good film and the one i thought was the main character all the way through. well she just wasn't not even slightly.
7 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Entertaining with some high points & an original storyline
Thrill_KillZ28 April 2012
I was happy to watch this when I saw the high rating but I had my expectations a little to high although it surely kept me entertained for the duration. It's kind of like a good book, having you waiting for answers. It all starts with a party held at the end of the school term with a young man named Felix. Not quite popular & on the geeky side he wanted very badly to be with a girl that was basically out of his league. After some coke from a buddy he gets up the nerve to talk to her, well as it turns out in most circumstances she didn't feel for him in the least and being the nasty young thing that she was she played a gag on him that ended up in ridicule.

The film then takes a turn with two car loads of people heading to Felix's house for a big birthday bash, these people, the same as those from the party are coming only for the free drink, none of them his friends at all. They knew his family was loaded so they were ambitious to get there. Upon pulling up to this enormous castle of a place they are told Felix wasn't there that they had two walk a ways to get to the keeper's cabin as called. Awaiting them was Felix's brother Justin who cordially invites them in, as to the rest it shall rest on the viewer. There are a few surprises but nothing mind blowing although original & entertaining. It's really more of a thriller than a horror piece, but I know some peoples horror is a comedy to another. The creativity level was high enough to engage you but not enough to suck you in, as the story unfolds in a more casual way. The characters weren't very likable except for Justen, Felix's brother played by David Oakes. There was nothing to get too excited here, but it's more than good enough for a solid 6/10
18 out of 29 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Could have been much better
lcherresse21 April 2020
This movie starts out pretty good. Keeps you interested in what the story line has to bring. Some where towards the end it just starts get silly. It falls apart for me after that
9 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
torturous thriller is better than expected!
saadgkhan19 June 2012
Truth or Dare – CATCH IT (B) Truth or Dare, a party game becomes deadly. As an independent British movie, I think it does a great job in creating a brutal psychological suspense thriller. It's not boring, cliché or above all mediocre. The cast is simple perfect which makes it more fun to actually enjoy it. David Oakes has become the ultimate bad boy, I have seen David Oakes ruining lives in period dramas "Pillars of the Earth" and "The Borgias". Watching him in modern avatar was a surprise and I have to say he did a good job. The supporting cast Liam Boyle, Jack Gordon, Florence Hall, Janie Jaques, Tom Kane and Alexander Vlahos has done a nice job keeping the tension going on till the end. On the whole, it's a fun entertaining torturous thriller with A Twist in the end. Watch it!
14 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Original enough to consider this movie a watchable one.
Boba_Fett113820 July 2012
Because this is a British production, it's already feeling and looking somewhat different and more fresh from other genre movies. It besides is picking an original approach, that isn't always being a very likely one as well though.

That's really the problem with the main premise of this movie. It's good and original all but it's hard to imaging someone would really go through all that trouble, just to get the truth from some people. It lets the movie feel flawed in parts and not the best to watch but overall the movie is luckily being good and original enough to still consider this to be a watchable one.

The concept of the movie will probably be more than enough for the average horror lover to go and watch this movie and for them this will be a good watch, even though this is not a terribly graphic or scary genre movie. It really mostly relies on its main premise and it for most part handles this well, though the execution of it all definitely could had been more interesting and better thought through at times. This movie definitely had some more potential, though budget reasons probably also held the movie back from ever truly going all out on things and make this a truly great movie.

The movie also does still make some strange decisions with its story. It doesn't exactly have the best twists and story developments in it. It makes the movie somewhat ridicules and far from convincing but hey, this is a horror movie. People who will watch it will already have certain expectations of it and are more or less taking for granted already that this isn't going to be a movie with the most tight or most clever script to it. At least the story doesn't ever turn this movie into a bad one to watch. It's just also too fast going for that.

It's being definitely a better movie to watch than just the average and formulaic Hollywood attempt!

6/10
11 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
This movie is bad
jaxon-0758413 February 2022
Like ungodly bad. Logic and physics do not apply.

There are so many moments when characters make stupid decisions, other times when physics just don't bloody exist and a terrible ending to wrap it all up.
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Great little movie but.......
ericdhall7710 January 2020
A good movie with a typical revenge style plot. However, the ending basically ruins the movie.

Spoiler************ I've never wanted a survivor to die like I did this one.
6 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Could have been way better
shaniamazin18 September 2021
The end was garbage period. We expect that some will die and people that we actually like buy this was just awful. The one person who should have suffered the most horrible death didn't and I wish I could take my time back. I was with it right up until the end and then I regretted clicking on it.
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Nice revenge flick with a bit of a twist
jackmeat5 October 2015
My quick rating 5,5/10. This is a revenge flick that definitely goes that extra mile to focus on the back story as much as the torture of the participants. The youths think they are going to a party for some kid they made fun of (hey, morons, why were you invited again?) and of course, revenge is on the menu. But the subtle twists in this movie make it stand out(especially towards the end). The acting of the kids (young adults, whatever) was surprisingly good but part of me thinks they were just being themselves, not acting (which is fine). The scares are minimal as this is much more psychological thriller in nature. Te payoff ends up being worth the trip (95min). As in most horror movies these days, the male dominant bad guy tends to get real clumsy and forgets how to fight (considering he was military, this seems a bit strange) but doesn't deter much from the film. It seems with all the recycled horror there is, movies such as this have a hard time standing out since they are good, but just can't make any leap above what has already been done. Enjoyable nonetheless.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
"Truth or Die" movie ending?
cain-4061010 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Personally, I thought the ending was rubbish. Geeky kid (Felix) gets embarrassed at a party playing Truth or Dare by some of the more popular jerks. Months later, they are invited to his b-day party (the excuse of them actually going being chalked up to the fact that apparently this kid is from a filthy rich family and they're expecting a huge shindig). They arrive only to be greeted by his brother (Justin) who says Felix is out of the country but they can stay. After everyone settles in, he basically tortures them with a more gruesome version of the game in retaliation for his brother committing suicide. What makes the ending crap is that the most deplorable person in the film (a huge B who has no redeeming qualities) gets away at the end but not before gloating to Justin how she manipulated and humiliated his little brother into killing himself. Unlike other films where the audience admires or even respects the "bad guy" (Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, Dracula, Terminator...just to name a few), there's nothing and no one wanting this chick to live. In fact, she's the stereotype girl-most-hated- and-first-to-die...and she ends up getting away scott free and smiling her evil smile as she drives away triumphant. Like I said, crap ending. Unless the twist in-and-of-itself is enough to override your sense of justice.
10 out of 15 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Well worth watching
Sleepin_Dragon10 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I picked it up without taking much notice, the cover intrigued me, I expected a rather run of the mill US movie with the usual scares and thrills, and what I got was a rather classy British revenge horror thriller.

The concept is very original, I love the story, I love the development of the characters and the story, and I was truly impressed by the ending, talk about twists and turns. You'll watch this without knowing which direction it's going in, there is so much to keep the viewer guessing.

Very well acted by everyone, although the standout performances for me came from David Oakes and Jennie Jacques, they made the ending the highlight.

You can't help but get into this film, and feel the sense of revenge develop. Original. 8/10
4 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Not that bad but
SanteeFats22 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
One weak boy (Felix)in love with an out of reach girl plays a game of Truth or Dare. Given a truth of who at the party he would like to take upstairs to roger (as the Brits say)he of course picks the out of reach girl. Her boy friend, who is an ass, gets upset and punches him out. Months later the five closest friends(?) are invited to a birthday party for Felix. Turns out when they get there that Felix has shown his weakness by hanging himself. So Felix's brother has set a revenge cabin to get even. The brother is a not right in the head military man who has served three tours in the cesspool of Afghanistan. By fair means or foul the brother kills or maims all the friends plus another who shows up later. One of the friends is so weak willed he is co-opted by the brother and actually helps him against the others. Even murdering the late arriving friend. While this is going on Gemma has escaped and runs to the manor to try and call for help. She discovers that Felix is not dead but is paralyzed and on life support. Bad brother finds her and breaks her neck. As this is happening the turn coat has been left alone with last two survivors. Eleanor is the only more or less healthy one and she breaks free and knocking the wussy one to the ground splits his head and dies. Before that happens he has confessed to being the one who sent the post card that supposedly caused Felix to hang himself. Surprise, surprise, it turns out the reason for baby brothers hanging resulted from an email sent by Eleanor asking for financial help for her father's failing company, threatening to release a video of his very inept sexual tryst between the two of them. Since big brother was coming home Felix evidently hung himself from shame rather than face him. Eleanor has found Felix and brings him to the cabin. She then explains the scenario to big bro who has been overcome and tied to a post. Giving Felix a grenade she places the pin in one finger and leaves. Felix eventually works the pin loose and blows up both of them. Eleanor and the last remaining boy survive to drive out. The ending was not what I expected as I assumed (I know) that all the friends would end up dead.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
200% Useless Timepass Movie
smugesh-1065722 April 2022
Worst timepass movie I've ever seen in life. Do not waste your time by watching this movie. Instead of watching this, you can hit the walls near by you with your face 😂
5 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
It was good.
LaverneandShirleysucks13 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In the beginning of the film I said to myself "I can't wait to see that girl's death scene"....but.... it never came! The character that you hate the most and look so forward to getting what's due to her walks away in the end after turning the tables on the attacker. Where's the justice?! It was a good film up until then. Boo.
12 out of 32 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Twisted and Disturbing. I like it.
shannonlong63627 August 2020
This was much better than I expected. A really good little British horror flick. This is one of those movies that prove you don't need a big budget to make a good horror movie. The acting was spot on, particularly on the part of Jennie Jacques. I wavered between giving it a 7 or an 8. I ultimately gave it 7 stars because I just couldn't quite give it 8 but it was close. Definitely worth watching.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed