GHOST MACHINE

Playing games in the wrong place

GHOST MACHINE was released on DVD and copies can be found on reseller and auction sites.

Review

Tom works with the military on state of the art training simulations. Like all good gamers, however, at the weekends he steals the top secret equipment and heads off to abandoned prisons to turn the simulations into the ultimate gaming experiences for his mates. This time, though, there's something in the prison with them, something that is unhappy, vengeful and dead. The virtual reality world, however, gives the presence a new domain to work in and it soon finds a way to make the injuries it delivers in the virtual world happen to the real player. Racing against the clock, the friends have to find out what the spirit wants and use that as a way to escape.

A videogame that turns into reality - sound familiar? It seems like only a month or so since we were reviewing GAMER, big budget blockbuster about a game that is only too real. GHOST MACHINE can't compete with the likes of GAMER in terms of budget, style, quality or star wattage, but it does beat its big budget rival in one vital area - it's actually a lot more fun.

Which doesn't mean that GHOST MACHINE is great art, or even a great film. The plot makes less and less sense as time goes on, the lack of budget shows and the cast aren't great. Rachael Taylor is like the world's least convincing soldier and Sean Faris starts off poor and gets worse as the demands on him grow. The horror isn't that terrifying either with a 15 certificate showing that the worst of the violence is reined in. It even wimps out on the nudity in the inevitable virtual reality porn scene.

The premise, though, is strong enough to hold up for a Friday night DVD with your mates and some beers. Once it gets rolling, the pace doesn't let up and there's enough going on to ensure that you aren't going to get bored. The use of a victim of extraordinary rendition as the vengeful spirit is also a nice touch that adds some topicality to the plot, whilst the hooked chain as her choice of weapon is more original than some.

GHOST MACHINE isn't going to change anyone's view of the world and it doesn't linger in the memory long, but for a 'switch off your brain and just let it happen' entertainment it's OK. It's certainly a better time than GAMER.