Stay Alive is a 2006 horror flick that owes much to other successful horrors such as The Ring and Final Destination amongst others and has been described by some as The Grudge meets Xbox!

It all begins when a computer programmer begins Beta-testing a new game that is based on a familiar survival-horror format. Your character, which you can design to pretty much look like you, enters an old mansion and then has to basically stay alive whilst being attacked by all manner of beasties and demonic beings. The Big Boss ultimately being a scary looking lady armed with shears. But when he dies in the game, he and every one else in the house are brutally killed in real life. Him, in the same manner as how he died in the game.....

A close friend, who was talking to him that night on the phone while he played, receives a copy of the game when he attends his friends funeral and, interested, invites some of his friends to play. All donning headsets, the group enter the game and soon find themselves being killed off one by one. And then the deaths in real-life start occurring.....as connections are made, the group discover that the game is based around a real-life local urban legend but can they uncover the truth before it kills them all?

This really isn't a bad film but I think you kinda have to be a gamer and played these games to appreciate it! The game itself is very close to Silent Hill in looks and theme and there are a few tense moments that owe much to Final Destination but ultimately, the whole thing just relys on too many connections to other movies to be a total success and a distinct lack of blood and gore, the camera panning away at the last minute, really doesn't do it any favours!

The cast includes Malcom In The Middle and one of the later characters from the O.C and you get the impression that they only took this gig to help keep their profiles high, unsuccessfully as it turns out because I don't recall seeing either of them in anything else! Still, they do the best they can with the script they are given which features a lot of "I can't believe this is happening" and the traditional sceptical Police who refuse to believe anything sinister is occurring even when one of their number is also killed!

Overall, this is okay but one to rent not buy! The ending kind of sucks, there is no real explanation of who is producing the game and too much reliance on vague spiritual folklore. But it does look good in places and for something that is obviously not that high a budget, it really is okay. I enjoyed it but don't think I would bother watching it again when there is so much better out there but for a single watch, all I can say is it was alright!