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[DVD Review] ‘I-Lived’ Falls Just a Bit Short
I-Lived is the newest film from director Frank Khalfoun (Maniac, P2). It’s a story about Josh (Jeremiah Watkins), a Stanford graduate, who other than his degree doesn’t have much going for him. His girlfriend recently broke up with him, he’s months behind on his rent and he’s trying to make it as a YouTube star with his channel about app reviews but unfortunately only about a hundred or so people subscribe. Back home Josh’s parents are in a constant struggle as his mom battles cancer. Yeah, Josh has a pretty rough life at the moment.
The film opens up with Josh recording a new review video for a new self-help app called I-Lived. The idea behind the app is that you input a goal and the app will notify you with new tasks to help you accomplish your goal. You have to record videos of you completing each tasks and upload them to monitor your progress. Josh explains in his review that he used it to try and get six-pack abs but unfortunately it did not work and he ultimately recommends passing on the app.
Flash forward to later that night. Josh is at a bar and he has yet to delete I-Lived. The app picks up on his location and notifies him to take a picture of a girl he likes and the app will help him get her. Josh surveys the room and spots Greta (Sarah Power). He takes the picture, uploads it to the app and before you know it Josh is taking Greta home.
This is just the beginning for Josh. Shortly after he and Greta begin dating his YouTube page explodes. Things continue to go up for Josh as he gets offered a job, his landlord stops harassing him for the rent and his mom starts to get better. Convinced this change in fortune is a result of his own doing and not the app, Josh deletes the app.
Bad move Josh.
Shortly after deleting the app Josh catches Greta with another guy. Then his followers decline and the job offer falls through. He landlord starts breathing down his neck again and his mom’s cancer returns, this time worse than before. Naturally Josh decides to give the app another go but this time the tasks assigned to him are much more sinister.
There’s a lot of good in I-Lived. The idea itself is quite creative and a nice play on the modern world. In fact I’m surprised it hasn’t been done before. The film also has a lot of style. Much like he did with the Maniac remake, Khalfoun takes a new creative approach to his storytelling. Much of the film is either YouTube videos or takes place on some type of computer screen or monitor. Even if you don’t like the movie, you have to hand it to Khalfoun for showing once again that he’ll take a risk and try something new.
The star of I-Lived though is Watkins. He’s brilliant. Watkins brings so much charm and energy to the movie. He’s a likable, relatable guy. You want to see Josh come out on top, especially once his life begins to take that dark spiral. That’s all thanks to the terrific performance from Watkins.
What holds I-Lived back from being a great horror movie is the actual script. The concept and idea is solid, the script just needed some tweaking. The interaction and dialogue between some of the characters, particularly that of Josh and his friend Bobby (Christopher Mena), is a bit silly and over the top. It doesn’t always feel natural.
The story had the chance to get really dark but ended up being a bit of a missed opportunity. There is a bit of social commentary that is nice, but I don’t think it takes it far enough. This is a personal preference more than anything, but I wanted more. The ending is a bit of a letdown as well. The final shot itself is awesome, but where the story ends sort of feels like there wasn’t an ending.
While watching I-Lived was an enjoyable experience, in the end I felt a little disappointed. I appreciate Khalfoun continuing to attempt new things and I think Watkins is a star in the making but the film had a real chance to be something special and unfortunately it never quite gets there and that’s a shame.
I-Lived is available on DVD from XLrator Media.
Editorials
Arrow Video’s ‘Stranger Things: The Complete Series’ is the Ultimate Collector’s Box Set for Fans
Available as of today from Arrow Video is a new box set that might arguably be the definitive way to watch Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things.
At the very least, Stranger Things: The Complete Series puts emphasis on “complete.” That’s evident in its special features alone.
Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series are available for purchase now, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, interviews with the cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, designed for the ultimate Stranger Things experience.
The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly-commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material: a 148-page booklet, exclusive art cards, a Hellfire Club patch, double-sided posters for each season, and much more.
This limited-edition release features all 42 episodes of the show’s five season run on more than 25 discs, all housed in a set featuring gorgeous artwork by Juan Ramos. “We always dreamed that Stranger Things could be owned in its entirety,” said Matt and Ross Duffer, “not just as a collector’s set, but as a way to preserve the show for decades to come.”
Their imprint looms large over the release, including writing in the 148-page book that also includes original design sketches, concept art, and storyboards. All of which would warrant the steep price tag alone for the diehard Stranger Things fan, but Arrow Video upped the ante with collectible surprises as well. Arcade patches, stickers, Hellfire Club dice, and an extremely detailed map of Hawkins, Indiana- double-sided to account for the Upside Down, of course – are among the highlights for this all-ages set.
Adorn your walls with posters representative of your favorite season! That’s also an option with this set’s offerings.
All of which to say that it’s rare for Netflix to make the jump into physical media, and they’ve enlisted Arrow Video to give it the best possible treatment. They certainly brought utmost care and attention to this release. As such, both the standard and deluxe sets come with steep price tags that start at $160 depending on format. While that’s likely a deterrent to the casual viewer, it’s more than worth it for fans.
It may be less convenient than hitting play on Netflix, sure, but there’s a lot to be said about the potential for quality upgrades to your viewing. No spotty internet or compression issues to be found here when it comes to the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray discs.
That’s really the biggest takeaway from this release: the untapped potential still of Netflix’s streaming library of originals that are ripe for similar treatment. Series and films that could receive Arrow Video levels of treatment on physical media.
Fans of Stranger Things can venture into the Upside Down one last time this spooky season at Halloween Horror Nights, but there may be no better way to ring in the series’ tenth anniversary than a rewatch with this expansive, well-curated box set.
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