- Film Review
- Reviewed By Alan Jones
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1 out of 5
Crank writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor rehash elements of The Running Man, Rollerball and Death Race 2000 for this cynical exercise in gratuitous sex and ridiculous violence. In the near future, online gamers control real people in a shoot 'em up game called "Slayers". Their avatars are death-row inmates, who are promised their freedom if they complete 30 missions. 300 star Gerard Butler plays Kable, superstar of the "Slayers" and well on his way to a reunion with his wife and daughter. But the game's nasty billionaire creator (played by Dexter star Michael C Hall) isn't going to let his top avatar go without a fight. The film's hyperactive visual style, facile attempts at satire (internet users are all obese sex maniacs) and sci-fi clichés quickly turn it into an endurance test. And it's just as crude, unpleasant and obvious as one would expect from a movie with a character named Rick Rape (an embarrassing performance from Milo Ventimiglia of TV's Heroes).
Plot Summary
Action thriller starring Gerard Butler and Michael C Hall. In a dark futuristic world, prison inmates are subjected to brain surgery and used as characters in a violent computer game. If they survive 30 battles, they win their freedom. But for ace fighter Kable, liberty leads to only further conflict.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Kable
- Gerard Butler
- Ken Castle
- Michael C Hall
- Angie
- Amber Valletta
- Simon
- Logan Lerman
- Trace
- Alison Lohman
- Hackman
- Terry Crews
- Freek
- John Leguizamo
- Humanz Dude
- Aaron Yoo
- Humanz Brother
- Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
- Gina Parker Smith
- Kyra Sedgwick
- Sandra
- Zoë Bell
- Rick Rape
- Milo Ventimiglia
- Agent Keith
- Keith David
Crew
- Director
- Mark Neveldine
- Director
- Brian Taylor
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