Based on the 1990 film of the same name, Flatliners is the story of five medical students all brought together to take part in a kind of science experiment to find out what happens after you die. Led by Courtney (Ellen Page - Juno, X-men Franchise) the group take it in turns to have near death experiences (well all but Ray (Diego Luna - Narcos, Rouge One) who, well.....isn't stupid enough to do it) but not everything works out as Courtney's experience, with each member of the group experiencing a darker, more sinister out of body experience. While yes they all gain a new sense of being, with heightened brain power and sexual awakenings, the darkness the clouded their near death experiences begin to take over their minds in the real world with their greatest sins coming back to haunt them.
I have to admit, I have never seen the original Flatliners film. It was one of the early 90's horrors that unfortunately passed me by, but on watching the 2017 remake I wouldn't mind going back and watching it. I didn't mind this film, It is your usual middle of the road horror film with a few jump scares and questionable acting. These are nothing new and to be totally fair I didn't need groundbreaking or new It was just nice to get a supernatural horror film which wasn't just based around Found Footage or haunted houses. Is Flatliners going to be remembered in the years that follow? probably not with old school horror fans like me, HOWEVER this film is for the newer generation of fans who will not go and see the original, new fans who may think this is a pretty damn good film. It's a generational thing and something that may explain the negative reaction from critics.
Acting wise, as stated before, is your usual horror fair. Page is by far the biggest name this film has with Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev a close second but what let the film down acting wise is the newer talent. Story-wise I actually enjoyed it. It was an interesting concept that, yes we saw before in the original, we don't see much of in other similar supernatural films. We also get a nod the the original with Kiefer Sutherland popping up as a new character. The film has a 00's vibe to it aswell. It reminded me of films like Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Final Destination which may explain why I found a bit more enjoyment from it.
Overall Flatliners is an easy to watch little horror film with so so acting and an interesting plot line. I do wish a few things could be changed, like the ending of the film and more deaths but as a whole it is really not that bad. Great for a lazy evening in.