Stay Alive

Name: Stay Alive
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: March 24, 2006
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 24
Cast: Frankie Muniz, Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong

2006

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 240 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 240 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: March 24, 2006 | PG-13

Starring: Frankie Muniz, Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong

Summary: After the mysterious brutal death of an old friend, a group of teenagers find themselves in possession of Stay Alive, a next generation horror survival videogame based on a spine-chilling true story. As the group begins to play the grisly game a chilling connection is made -- they are each being murdered one-by-one in the same method as theAfter the mysterious brutal death of an old friend, a group of teenagers find themselves in possession of Stay Alive, a next generation horror survival videogame based on a spine-chilling true story. As the group begins to play the grisly game a chilling connection is made -- they are each being murdered one-by-one in the same method as the character they played in the game. As the line between the game world and the real world disappears, the group must find a way to STAY ALIVE. (Hollywood Pictures)… Expand

Director: William Brent Bell

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 85 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Horror buffs looking for a novel twist on genre formulas should look elsewhere, but this body-count potboiler about a sinister video game and the poor dopes who make the mistake of playing it is the movie equivalent of junk food: It's not good, but it's predictable and even satisfying, in a low-expectations way. Read full review

John Anderson

Despite some hackneyed qualities, helmer William Brent Bell's good-looking if undistinguished cast and the seemingly fresh twist on an old tale should lure the usual fans of mayhem, murder and the medieval. Read full review

John Anderson

Stay Alive spends a lot of time inside the video game system, and what will terrify the audience very early on is the realization that there's better acting in the video game than on the big screen. Read full review

Jason Anderson

Here's a movie that tries to be a video game but is less entertaining than a vending machine. Read full review

Felix Vasques Jr.

I never really expected something so utterly lame-brained. Though, the film is not as awful as I've heard, it's quite possibly the laziest script I've ever seen. Read full review

Empire James Dyer

A cool idea rapidly falls apart. A completely missed opportunity. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Stay Alive has none of the vicarious thrills of, say, "Konami: Silent Hill 2." It's barely even Pong unplugged. Read full review

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User Reviews

[Anonymous]

Jul 21, 2006

Loved it. Suspense and horror, nice plot. Waitin' for DVD.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Socket84

Sep 13, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This Is One Tense, Creepy, Atmospheric Gaming Movie. It's Like Brainscan Meets Silent Hill Coming Together In A Very Enjoyable (And Creepy) Way!

I am a fan of horror. In these later years, there has been a proliferation of bad horror movies on the market. Most begin with four or five kids, heading to a remote location for a weekend, they are stalked by whatever antagonist, and all die but one or two of them. Voilas, there is the rote formula for nearly all your B-class horrors of the last two decades.

This one starts out with six or so kids, and therefore, I was expecting nothing whatsoever in the way of innovation or fun. I thought I would be writing a different kind of review than the one I am currently writing.

While the premise used in Stay Alive is nothing new, it feels a bit like the original Saw in its atmosphere, without plodding. It feels a lot like Brainscan in its realism, without coming off campy. But more importantly, it feels quite a bit like Silent Hill in its atmosphere, without leading us into the pseudo-religious, dogma-filled prattlings.

In essence? This was one creepy little film, if you can allow yourself to become involved in the story, that is. But you must suspend disbelief in order to let yourself be drawn into most any cinematic work.

Above the atmosphere, which is the real star of the work, the story itself is quite compelling. Beyond the premise, which HAS been done before, the plot itself is pretty fresh, and goes a long way towards preventing this work from feeling rehashed, recycled, or otherwise done and done.

I have to say that I enjoy this venture to the fullest. It has some VERY tense moments, features some great (although wholly goreless and pretty much bloodless) kills, and delivers a fine execution of the concept.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Aerialist277

Jun 19, 2021

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7 of 9 users found this helpful72

YourMom

Apr 4, 2006

I really, really liked this movie. It was fun! The acting was much better than recent "horror" flicks, and the storyline, though cliched, kept my interest. I loved the references to games like fatal frame and silent hill. And the game in the movie actually looked like a game i would want to I really, really liked this movie. It was fun! The acting was much better than recent "horror" flicks, and the storyline, though cliched, kept my interest. I loved the references to games like fatal frame and silent hill. And the game in the movie actually looked like a game i would want to play, which has never been done before in the history of movies involving games. Most of the scares in the movie are bump-in-the-night, cheap-jump moments and i would have liked more gore, but overall it was acceptable. Most horror movies of late have totally sucked, and it's nice to see one that entertained me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

CharlieN.

May 17, 2006

Meh...boring and unscary...an R rated version would have been better.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]

Mar 27, 2006

People who gave this movie 8 and up must be getting paid. seriously. it sucks. read w00f w00f's review, he nails it right on the head.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

jjfad

Mar 20, 2006

Um...so i was unfortunate enough to sit through a screening of this garbage...and i really wish i had been in a position to leave...but was an unwilling guest of someone involved in this (so-called) production. i swear there must be some form of nepotism involved here, because i am prettyUm...so i was unfortunate enough to sit through a screening of this garbage...and i really wish i had been in a position to leave...but was an unwilling guest of someone involved in this (so-called) production. i swear there must be some form of nepotism involved here, because i am pretty sure the "movie" my friends and i made in 8th grade and edited between a pair of VHS decks far outclassed stay alive in writing, production value, acting and certainly in direction and effects. it is no wonder these guys have never been involved in a movie before (pa on payback does not really count) and i pray they are never involved again... so back to the nepotism thing...that can be the only possible way that the writers of this horrible excuse for entertainment could have gotten this project off the ground... in summary...please stay home and just watch a Lifetime Movie of the Week...i guarantee it will be less expensive and certainly scarier. or i can send you a copy of "My Housekeeper is a Ninja" its a cult classic from 8th grade.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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