‘Fear has a new face’
The Dare is a 2019 American-British-Bulgarian horror film about a young man who wakes up in a dark chamber and has to solve a puzzle regarding his past.
Directed by Giles Alderson (The Stranger in Our Bed; World of Darkness) from a screenplay co-written with Jonny Grant, the movie stars Richard Brake (3 from Hell; Mandy; Doom; et al), Joivan Wade, Richard Short and Robert Maaser.
Plot:
Having been torn away from his family, a young father is jolted back to consciousness as he awakens to find himself chained inside a dark chamber. There is someone else in the room.
Three other chained victims who are forced to piece together the clues created by the deranged captor that has brought them together to engage in a twisted battle to solve a puzzle to their past… or die a gruesome death.
Reviews:
“It was pretty bad. I don’t mean bad as in not good, those four deserved everything they got, I mean bad as in hectic. And there are roaches. Or other bugs that were menacing and terrifying enough to count as roaches. If you like horror that makes you cry with terror and wish it would all just end, then you’ll love The Dare.” Addicted to Media
“After a while the film does feel like its repeating itself quite frequently, replacing torture with story and depth. As a result the movie really does trail off towards the end […] I want to express a huge congratulations to the special effects team on this movie. Some of the practical gore effects were staggeringly and stomach-churningly realistic.” Back to the Movies
” …cinematography and performances are strong, with glimmers of ‘what could have been’; had it focused less on gore. So if a blood-drenched torture fest is your cup of tea this Halloween, The Dare may well tick the box. But, if you are looking for something more intelligent than plucked out eyeballs. The Dare will leave you both frustrated and bored by its conclusion.” Cinerama Film
“The Dare gleefully and continually doles out repugnant body carnage that is undoubtedly affecting but may not be enough to entice those who aren’t hardcore fans of the genre. While the antagonist’s means in which he chooses to torture his victims seems random, there is a purpose behind each depraved act. Uncovering that purpose gives the film a sense of structure that largely eludes its somewhat jumbled narrative.” Cultured Vultures
“The Dare isn’t a bad film by any means. I struggled to see the point though, and more than anything it felt like an exercise in mood and a chance to shoehorn in some very nasty effects. I wouldn’t write Alderson off though – the movie is competent and well put together – but some more involving subject matter next time wouldn’t go amiss.” Dark Eyes of London
“It’s true how The Dare may present itself a bit cleaner when stacked alongside low-budget torture […] of years past, but it’s still no more inventive. Giles Alderson positions Jay’s survival as a gauntlet to save his family, yet sequences exist with barely enough tension to fill his captor’s cramped, guts-soaked chamber.” Flickering Myth
Release:
The Dare was shown at the 2019 Popcorn Frights Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on August 9th.
In the UK, Lionsgate will release The Dare on Digital Download on 5th October and on DVD on 12th October 2020.
Cast and characters:
Richard Brake … Credence
Joivan Wade … Carter
Richard Short … Adam Heinz
Robert Maaser … Dominic
Bart Edwards … Jay Jackson
Percelle Ascott … Cleveland
Ronan Summers … Glen
Harry Jarvis … Teen Dominic
Alexandra Evans … Kat Gill
Emily Haigh … Molly Jackson
Scott Michael Wagstaff … Stewie
Devora Wilde … Jess
Tim Fellingham … Mike
Victoria Ananieva … Alice
Oliver Park … Peter
Technical details:
97 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35: 1
