Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Starve’

Written by Scott Edwards

There is something that I love doing with my time, research. Trying to find the most up to date information on what I am going to be doing makes me feel as if I am putting in quality time and making the best decisions based off of what I found. While it can be a tedious process for many people, it is key if you want to do the right thing. No matter your job or hobby, going in knowing much more about what you are doing always makes it easier and sometimes even more entertaining.
​
Needing to get inspiration for his next graphic novel, Beck wants to check out the abandoned town of Freedom and the urban legend of the feral children that have been reported to roam around there. Bringing his girlfriend Candice and brother Jiminey along for the ride, it should be a good time. Making sure that his traveling partners are up to speed about what happened in the town, Beck gives them the entire rundown of what he knows about the sink holes, the feral children and even the rumors of cannibals. But as most urban legends go, there might be a little truth to the stories and while driving under a bridge, their car gets hit by a massive rock, just like what the legend has said.

Arriving at the local diner and talking to Agnes about what he wants to do, the group is pretty much ignored by Stu who is the Manager/Mayor of Freedom. Telling the kids to keep to the streets and not to enter any of the buildings, the group is sent on their way. With an hour promised to investigate the town, Beck is entering with eyes wide open. With the town being abandoned literally in a moment’s notice, Jiminey wants to take a closer look. Entering one of the houses to find everything left behind, the group does not know that there is someone in the woods that is looking to take advantage of them.

Waking up in separate cages in a place unknown to them, Beck and Candice hear from their new friend, the Principal, who has a very intriguing game for them to play and to the winner goes a meal. Thinking that this is crazy, Beck is forced to fight for his life and despite winning his first meal, he has no idea what the true point of this lesson is. As the fights move on throughout the old school, the Principal continues to teach his students about what starving will do to them, so if they wish to survive, they must fight and win for food. Being locked up next to the Principal’s office, Candice is able to see that it is only one person running the show and makes sure that Beck knows what they are up against if they want to have any chance of escaping their new-found hell in Freedom.

I must admit, I did not expect what showed up on the screen before me, especially after reading the description since this film turned out to be more of a study of what people are capable of when they are forced to look death in the mouth. I really dug on the kills that were brought to the screen, as each fight involved different weapons to use for survival. The Principal is one creepy guy and gets what he wants from his students, at least if they want to continue living, pretty sick actually. Watching Beck and Candice fight to survive was great, but seeing the hunger finally overtake them was very interesting to say the least. With plenty of killing, household weapons, a struggle for survival, more blood than expected and a fire extinguisher, this movie really kept me glued to the screen. I must admit that if I don’t get at least two meals in a day, I get very angry and now I truly understand the term Hangry. Stay Scared.

---