Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Death Count’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Death Count’.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that we live in a genuinely concerning time when it comes to the status of the internet. For this incredible digital world, one that was designed to offer the compendium of human knowledge to anyone in need of answers, while connecting us on a fundamental level like never before… has become less of a knowledge-based paradise and more of a horror show. For it now harbors safe space for the scum of the earth, where they can grow their hate and share in their ugly away from prying eyes. Not to mention, it has unfortunately become an oasis for misinformation as well. Where anyone can use guile and slick designs to create a website that makes them look as though they are an official news source.
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Not to mention, it is a place where revenge comes into play now. Where people can use anonymity to strike back at those that have wronged them in a manner where their vendetta goes viral, and well… all of these unfortunate paradigm shifts in the purpose of the internet are indeed why we are concerned. For we simply don’t know what other bad elements will spring up in a playground that is feeding a unique brand of evil and well… it just so happens that a brand-new motion picture takes the time to indulge our fears about the internet. All by asking the question, what would happen if the worst parts of us were unleashed via the web? And that makes Death Count quite the unsettling and visceral horror movie. 

One that introduces us to a group of people that awaken one fine day in a difficult place. For they discover that they are trapped within various cells and are chained to their beds and have been surgically altered, all to entertain the masses on the web. For they are also quickly introduced to a man named The Warden, who informs them they are going to be taking part in an online game. One grounded in popularity and where the ‘contestants’ will physically harm themselves to garner the most likes. Those with the least amount of likes, will die, and if by chance they opt to not play, they also opt to die… thanks to explosive devices implanted beneath their fresh scars. Which leaves this group besides themselves as they work to decide if they should play by the rules or fight back, regardless of the cost. But for a select few, they are eager to press forward and do great harm to themselves, not only to survive, but to uncover the truth about who is really behind this horror show and why they have been chosen to take part in their vendetta, in the hopes of ending this before too many lives are lost.

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Which is a plot that masterfully explores that ‘what if?’ scenario to a tee. Since it truly explores the toxic nature and power of the internet and how easily it could be weaponized to do great harm to people if the wrong person set up the right kind of revenge. But where this examination truly shines is in its commentary since it quickly hits upon our obsession with likes on social media and how we treat that as life and death, and how easily we are sucked into the negativity of the internet. In part because we are curious if what we are seeing is real or not, but also because of the safety it provides us to explore morbid curiosity. Hammering home, the reality that the web can be a toxic place for certain, while informing us through the character’s actions… that change in such matters is up to us since it will require people to say when and not give the trash the clicks that unsavory people are basically begging for.
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However, while that makes this a poignant and powerful motion picture, we’d be remiss to not discuss the horror elements present here as well. Because they are equally as stunning and visceral as the commentary, since we are forced to watch in utter terror as the people trapped within this nightmare do great harm to themselves in order to survive to the next round and hopefully escape this mostly intact, and well… that makes for some uncomfortable moments. For this is a motion picture that holds little back regarding the gore and these sequences are indeed extended in nature. Making for top-notch horror sequences, where the pain is sold via some incredible acting since we need to believe that pain, and the actors do that here, and leave you breathless in the process.

If anything, all of these elements make this, a magnificent horror movie through and through. One that that harkens back to the ultra-violent horror movies that permeated the aughts but offers far more depth. For its commentary really is thought provoking. Not to mention, we need to take a moment and expand upon our mention of quality acting. Because Sarah French turns in a tour-de-force scream queen performance here that genuinely unsettles, plus those out there worried this movie might be too dark, can take comfort in the fact, that Michael Madsen’s performance helps to break that up, since his turn as a grizzled cop adds levity when needed. But the best news of all, is that you can see this magnificent motion picture right now on VOD, and we certainly hope you check it out. For it really is quite the delightful gem, one filled to the brim with everything that horror fans love: intelligence. scares, and splatter.

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