Adam Randal’s debut feature LEVEL UP starring Josh Bowman (ABC’s Revenge)is an intriguing story about a deadbeat gamer called Matt whose girlfriend gets kidnapped. This high concept British movie will make you question how real a gaming experience should or could become and shows a hidden, sometimes terrifying and often outright bizarre side of London as the kidnappers keep in touch with Matt by telephone issuing increasingly ludicrous and dangerous challenges that he must complete in order to keep his girlfriend alive.
The movie’s blend of dark humor against the backdrop of a chase thriller keeps you guessing as to whether this is really happening or whether this is an extension of a gaming experience that Matt is having in response to his failing relationship with Anna. What it does well is question how one would react if awoken wearing a suicide vest with a cell phone next to you set up to give instructions. The lines of reality and game fantasy are cleverly blurred in this movie but at its core it questions the lengths that one is prepared to go to for someone that they love.
As we watch Matt attempt to complete the series of bizarre tasks to get his beloved back, we are acquainted with a bunch of colorful yet equally sinister characters. Although the dialogue is a little clunky at times and the story unfolds a little slowly, Randall’s direction provides suitable tension and there is definitely unpredictability regarding what Matt’s fate will be; maybe like the man throwing himself off of a building in the opening sequence or will love prevail as he fights and realizes what he’s made of and how far he is prepared to go
Part THE GAME, part NERVE set in the gritty urban underground of the city you can be sure of one thing though, this is not your london of NOTTINGHILL
The action packed UK thriller hits nationwide VOD September 19th
