Flatliners

Name: Flatliners
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Horror
Released: August 10, 1990
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, William Baldwin

1990

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 121 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 121 Ratings

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Flatliners

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: August 10, 1990 | R

Starring: Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, William Baldwin

Summary: A group of medical students subject themselves to near death experience in order to explore the afterlife, but when they return they are haunter by what they saw.

Director: Joel Schumacher

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Caryn James

Flatliners is a stylish, eerie psychological horror film laced with wit, a movie that thrives on its characters' guilty secrets and succeeds on the strength of the director Joel Schumacher's flair for just this sort of smart, unpretentious entertainment. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Flatliners is a strikingly original, often brilliantly visualized film from director Joel Schumacher and writer Peter Filardi. Read full review

Dave Kehr

It's much to Schumacher's credit that Flatliners, for all of its crazy excess, does not turn into camp. Read full review

John Hartl

Their performances lend the movie a touch of class, even if they can't make up for the superficial writing and Schumacher's anything-for-a-jolt direction. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The look is overpowering enough to delay--though not forever--examination of the plot, which has to pull a fast one at every turn to keep moving and which eventually makes a mockery of plausibility. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

If Flatliners is anything at all, it's watchable: aflame with Jan de Bont cinematography, deep-focus decor, an attractive cast. The movie's problem, like many others recently, is that it isn't any deeper, dramatically or psychologically, than its own trailer. It is the trailer: the long version. Read full review

Jay Boyar

Far-fetched as the premise is, I was willing to give the film the benefit of the doubt for the sake of the impressive cast. But as Flatliners rolled along, its pretentiousness became increasingly toxic. Read full review

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User Reviews

Underworld978

Sep 25, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Flatliners is a classic thriller with an unusual plot. Five medical students want to flatline briefly to see if there is life beyond death. 4 of them flatline but they bring back their sins and begin having visions. The acting and effects are outstanding. This is one of the best horror movies of the last three decades.… Expand

35 of 36 users found this helpful351

Steven1981

Mar 18, 2020

Flatliners (1990) directed by Joel Schumacher who's made a few good films has an allstar cast such as Julia Roberts (Sleeping with the Enemy), Kevin Bacon (Hollow Man),William Baldwin (Sliver), Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, Mirrors) and Oliver Platt (Indecent Proposal).... FLATLINERS isFlatliners (1990) directed by Joel Schumacher who's made a few good films has an allstar cast such as Julia Roberts (Sleeping with the Enemy), Kevin Bacon (Hollow Man),William Baldwin (Sliver), Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, Mirrors) and Oliver Platt (Indecent Proposal).... FLATLINERS is a film about five medical students who take part in seeing if there's anything beyond death or if they can die or be brought back or being in the state of a vegetable and see who can handle it the longest and survive or something stupid. It's a silly film and it could of been better but Flatliners does deliver in terms of suspense and it grabs holds of the viewer and keeps them in it's grip until the credits roll. It's not a bad film and excellent performances especially by Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon and Kiefer Sutherland.. Good film however I'd avoid the recent remake that came out recently as it looks crap and remakes never work if hardly ever.… Expand

13 of 17 users found this helpful134

timone

Nov 9, 2018

As underappreciated as this movie gets, Flatliners is the example of what this movie really is. There's a new film of Flatliners has come out four months ago and it's not well received by audience giving it bad reviews thinking that it's god-awful. Not to say that the original is overlookedAs underappreciated as this movie gets, Flatliners is the example of what this movie really is. There's a new film of Flatliners has come out four months ago and it's not well received by audience giving it bad reviews thinking that it's god-awful. Not to say that the original is overlooked it's because it has flaws that are noticeable which is something I know about. I would that the original is much better than the remake. I know that the original has flaws that I didn't know of but that doesn't mean the movie is bad, it's just overlooked by everyone. There's some good cast in this and that's including Kiefer Sutherland. He plays the leader of the vampire's from The Lost Boys directed by Joel Schumacher. In this one, he plays a medical student named Nelson Wright and he has four classmates. There's Rachel Manus played by Julia Roberts, Dave Labraccio played by Kevin Bacon, Joey Hurley played by Alec Baldwin's brother, William Baldwin and Randy Steckle played by Oliver Platt. They're both responsible for the bad things they did in the past. Nelson Wright is responsible for the death of the kid called Billy Mahoney cause he was bullying him and after years of Billy's death Nelson has nightmares about Billy beaten him up. Rachel Manus feels responsible for her father's death and feels horrible about it. David Labraccio feels bad about making fun of a little girl called Winnie Hicks. Joey Hurley is haunted by the video tapes of women sleeping with him afraid that his girlfriend might leave him. And ask for Randy Steckle, he doesn't do anything at all. All he does is doing what he does best no matter what so ever. Now all they gotta do is go to the medical bed to face their past of what they did. The cinematography is great and it's so similar to The Lost Boys. I mean when you look at it, it shows people wearing Halloween costumes dancing and partying, looking at the beautiful views from the islands and yes, it's directed by Joel Schumacher. He makes cinematography look like 80's style. Billy Mahoney who is bullied by Nelson years ago bullies Nelson throughout the movie is the scenes where I can't stop laughing because of his reactions. Like the scene where Billy spits on Nelson's face and he screams and funny for me though he has nightmares like I said in the beginning. There's one full scene that I legitimately remember is the scene where Winnie Hicks calling David names on the train. Once again looking back at The 100 Greatest Insults in Movies on YouTube and whilst I'm watching Flatliners now and remember the scene I said "Oh God, I know this." That would be quite hilarious. I also finding it funny that five characters had to say "1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, breathe." multiple times to make that someone is alive or dead. Flatliners is not only one of Joel Schumacher's overlooked films but some of his most underappreciated. It may be one of the weaker films but I can't help but getting thrilled by this. Joel directed some of his memorable films like The Lost Boys, Falling Down, Phone Booth which I haven't seen these two yet and The Phantom of the Opera. If you are a fan of Joel Schumacher like I do, maybe check this one out. If you are a huge fan of The Lost Boys like me then I would suggest watching these two movies starring Kiefer Sutherland with your friends and have a good time and get thrilled. Now I know the remake is been badly executed but I haven't seen it yet and I know that Kiefer Sutherland is in it. If you're not getting bored watching The Lost Boys and Flatliners then I would say that every day is not a good day to die.… Expand

2 of 30 users found this helpful228

imthenoob

Oct 6, 2018

The talented cast and interesting premise lift this movie up a lot more than what it would have been. It kind of drags at times but it's watchable.

0 of 29 users found this helpful029

Voodoo123

Aug 19, 2022

A fantastic concept conveyed well by the talented cast. Sadly the set designs and bizzare lighting choices alongside some odd direction and editing choices firmly age the material and detract from an otherwise compelling watch. The screenplay is excellent and holds up well.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

alejandro970

Mar 12, 2021

The idea of what is after death looked original and had a lot to say in favor, but it fails to define which genre of films it corresponds to because it does not cause anxiety in the viewer, and in the last act he falls flat on his face with a very cheesy ending. In the defense of it, of theThe idea of what is after death looked original and had a lot to say in favor, but it fails to define which genre of films it corresponds to because it does not cause anxiety in the viewer, and in the last act he falls flat on his face with a very cheesy ending. In the defense of it, of the filmography of J. Schumacher, it is not as terrible as those that would do long after Batman (1995 and 1997).… Expand

0 of 13 users found this helpful013

Robwinz

Aug 2, 2020

Flatliners, the movie's got an interesting plot, which is about these five medical students who are wanting to learn what the afterlife is about.

The movie's got a great idea and it's even got some really good scenes, which show us what it's like in the afterlife or trying to test it out.Flatliners, the movie's got an interesting plot, which is about these five medical students who are wanting to learn what the afterlife is about.

The movie's got a great idea and it's even got some really good scenes, which show us what it's like in the afterlife or trying to test it out.

Also, the acting isn't amazing throughout this movie and the same goes for the dialogue, which feels like it's getting read from a script on the set.

The action scenes throughout this movie are honestly hilariously stupid because they try too hard to be some what scary and it doesn't work for them.

Overall, it's got some really good moments but in my opinion it lacks good acting and pretty much the same goes for the dialogue.… Expand

0 of 14 users found this helpful014

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