(spoiler free)
Should a film be remade because it was good or should a film be remade because it was bad? Maybe films just shouldn’t be remade at all? In the case of ‘Flatliners’, the original film is fine. It holds an initially interesting premise but not one that remains engaging for the full running time of the film. Therefore, there was definitely room to improve this film. However, it’s never been clear whether ‘Flatliners’ 2017 is a remake, sequel or reboot. With this confusion in mind it’s hard to know how we’re meant to watch this film, or if we should even watch it at all.
The premise this time around doesn’t stray too far from the original. A group of medical students embark on an experiment to see what happens when we die. In order to achieve this they purposely stop their hearts, or flat line, and record the brain activity before being brought back to life. Similarly to the original film this premise holds a certain level of intrigue but it just doesn’t sustain itself. The way in which the plot develops can’t match the initial engagement that the narrative provides. It unravels itself seeming to settle for a poorly thought out third act. Nonetheless, accepting the premise as a whole the film isn’t badly executed. The young cast do well with the material they’re provided with all performing as well as each other, however they never become as memorable as the cast from the original. Kiefer Sutherland returns here, playing a different character to his previous role. The remake/sequel confusion didn’t help with his involvement and more clarity on this could have made his contribution here much more fun and playful.
This new film is being marketed as a horror film but I’m afraid it’s largely unsuccessful as an addition to this genre. It’s neither trashy enough to become outrageously fun like, for example, the ‘Final Destination’ series nor is it credible enough to make any real impact on the genre. It finds itself somewhere in between these two extremes and as a result runs the risk of being instantly forgettable. Surprisingly though, whilst lacking in the horror department I did appreciate a number of sequences which held a good level of suspense and tension. These moments aren’t anything spectacular but they drew me into the story more than I was expecting. This is something that could have been achieved even more so if a clear direction had been taken with the connection to the first film. This lack of clarity did prevent my wholehearted engagement with the film.
Those looking for a horror film will be disappointed and those fans of the original movie won’t see the need for this remake. Consequently I think ‘Flatliners’ may struggle to find an audience. However, it’s perfectly serviceable and should maintain your attention for the entirety of the film but ultimately it fails to take advantage of improving or progressing the story that was told in the original.
Written by Hamish Calvert
Rating – 5/10
Question: What is your favourite Kiefer Sutherland film role?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)
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