Flatliners

Viewed in
2010

Formats
HD TV

Premise
Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon headline a group of medical students temporarily killing each other to experience near-death experiences.

Loved
The haunting visuals.

Liked
The premise.

Disliked
The convenient ending.

Thoughts
An interesting film full of spooky atmosphere.

I was intrigued by the exploration of playing with death, and its consequences. Director Joel Schumacher was the perfect director for this, as his specialty in grandiose and goth visuals accentuated the unknown. As the characters were haunted by their experimentation, Schumacher dialed up the set designs, lighting and cinematography to suspenseful effect.

The cast was pretty star-studded, highlighted by Kiefer Sutherland, playing the unbalanced student who started it all. The rest of the cast, including the radiant Roberts, were all solid as the rest of his cohorts.

While it was smarter than the average sci-fi, it could have done more. The characters were pretty thin, and their actions were more plot-driven. The message was pretty simple, despite the trippy visuals. Lastly, the ending was too nice and tidy for the edgy ideas the premise had brought forth.

It was enjoyable to watch, I just wished it gave me more to think about afterward.

What I would change
Made the consequences harsher.