freaks

Flatliners

Flatliners-480P

Flatliners-360P

Flatliners-480P

Flatliners-360P

source: Flatliners

Just the first few minutes of this movie sets the tone of it. How anyone could believe these kids were med students would be a laugh.

I understand that film making is a business and needs to be profitable. But in recent years there has been a steady decline in seeing new films with a great and 'original' story. Instead we have a plethora of, reboot/remake, as a guarantee of box office success.(or at least not loose money) So you now have a glut of 'reboots' that bear only the most superficial resemblance, to their classic namesakes. So many remakes/reboots, for no other reason, than to cash in on the name and glory of their classic forebears. With few exceptions the reboots are substandard, ersatz, low grade, unoriginal and unworthy bearers of titles of former great films. Sadly this film is no exception. The med students experimenting with 'after death' experience can have all the cgi and modern fandangos you like. The original was hardly a 'classic' but it had a good story, good actors and (the real test) you could watch it more than once. As with most reboots, imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but is certainly no guarantee of quality. This film illustrates this. Mediocre, watch once never again (unlike the original)

So, I saw the first Flatliners years ago, and it was a film that somehow stuck with me. From what I remember raised me real questions about life after death, and had a dark psychological feel. This remake starts well. It seems to go in the same direction, but then it goes on to seem more like any other supernatural terror movie, using the same old tricks to get you jumping of your seat. Yeah I was surprised sometimes, got that "he's behind you - don't look" felling, but I was expecting more. And what's with the Kiefer Sutherland character? Should have a more active role than just being there - no connection to what happened to him in the 90s. Expecting more psychological stuff and less "in your face" goosebumps, but it was fun to watch and to be actually a bit scared.