[yasr_overall_rating]
A harmless game of Truth or Dare among friends turns deadly when someone – or something – begins to punish those who tell a lie or refuse the dare.
Maybe it’s just a youthful thing that it is entertaining to see the beejesus being scared out of someone, but for some reason, I still look for logic and maybe, just maybe, that’s a flaw. The old adage, “It’s all fun and games, til somebody gets hurt,” has been exponentially updated in this film to ‘all fun and games til somebody gets dead.’ No sooner than the credits start rolling, there is the all too predictable goal-shaming between friends who want to spend their last spring break together before life gets in the way, and Olivia (Lucy Hale), the only seemingly focused one in the group, very quickly loses her motivational argument with the promise that all her buddies will pitch in to help her achieve her goals when they return.
As a trip to Mexico gets underway with all the youthful shenanigans included, such as psychopathic picture taking, endless body fusing-romance, and an unhealthy supply of alcohol, the group soon gets bored and decides to take a newfound friend up on his request to follow him for some alternative fun. Even though each of them has qualms about the dark, scary and death-reeking smells surrounding them, absolutely no one has sense or balls enough to back out. Before anyone can escape the madness, Olivia, who originally was the last to agree to the trip, convinces all her posse, including Markie (Violett Beane) and Lucas (Tyler Posey), to hang around and each opts in for what they think is a simple game of Truth or Dare, unknowingly sealing their fate for life or even death depending on player’s remorse. No sooner than the stranger gives the game’s final instructions, he disappears into thin air leaving the group in the throes of a game whose previously-decided fate is such that neither of them could avoid. The game begins to take an interesting turn as previously held secrets of the group are exposed and they realize that telling the truth will save their lives even if it destroys their friendship. After the much-anticipated drama and sudden death to the members who defy the curse has consumed the group, they finally realize that the only way to save themselves is to find some other group to bestow the Truth or Dare curse upon.
While the film is at times hilariously predictable, there seems to be no end to which the film tries to incorporate original surprise at how gullible people can be who fail miserably at trying to make sense of the illogical. Truth be told, this same adventure has been seen a thousand times over in a thousand ways, and the “Final Destination” similarities are eerily familiar. Kudos to Director Jeff Wadlow who used the Emmy-winning producer expertise of Jason Blum (“Paranormal Activity,” “The Purge,” “Insidious”) to chart the course. If you’re in for some predictable excitement that is void of conscience, “Truth or Dare” is scary enough to keep you watching until the end, trying to make it make sense…and that’s just frightening!
In theaters Friday, April 13th
