Iola Evans
Kayla
Overview
In pursuit of an unclaimed $125,000 prize, a broke college dropout decides to play an obscure, 1980s survival computer game. But the game curses her, and she’s faced with dangerous choices and reality-warping challenges. After a series of unexpectedly terrifying moments, she realizes she’s no longer playing for the money but for her life.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Game That Plays You Back
I’ve always had a soft spot for horror that treats technology like a haunted house—something that looks shiny and new but hides a basement full of ghosts. Choose or Die lands squarely in that tradition, though it’s less interested in scaring you than in making you squirm at the idea that your choices might not be yours at all. It’s a film that feels like it was designed by someone who grew up playing Zork in a dimly lit bedroom, convinced the parser was judging them. And maybe it was.
The premise is wonderfully bizarre, as RogerEbert.com noted—a lost 1980s survival horror game that doesn’t just kill your character but rewrites reality itself. That’s the kind of high-concept hook that could either collapse under its own weight or become something memorably unnerving. Choose or Die leans toward the latter, though not without stumbling. It’s a film that wants to be both a love letter to retro gaming and a cautionary tale about the dangers of nostalgia, and it mostly succeeds at the former while only hinting at the depth of the latter.
The story follows Kayla (Iola Evans), a broke college dropout who stumbles upon the cursed game while scavenging for a cash prize. The game’s rules are simple: make choices, survive the consequences. But the consequences aren’t confined to the screen.
A wrong move in the game might mean a real-world injury—or worse. The film’s best moments play like a twisted version of Jumanji, where the stakes aren’t just physical but existential. What does it mean to be trapped in a system where every decision is a gamble, and the house always wins?
That question lingers, but Choose or Die doesn’t always trust its audience to sit with it. The film’s pacing is uneven, lurching between slow-burn dread and sudden bursts of violence that feel more jarring than earned. There’s a scene early on where Kayla’s brother, played by Asa Butterfield, gets his arm broken by a game mechanic.
It’s a brutal moment, but it’s also the kind of shock that feels like it’s there to prove the film’s seriousness rather than to serve the story. (I’ve seen this trick before—horror films love to break bones to show they mean business. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a jump scare: effective in the moment, but hollow if it doesn’t lead anywhere.)
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.2/10
"A visually stylish but uneven horror-thriller that struggles to balance its retro aesthetic with coherent storytelling."
Viewers appreciate the film’s nostalgic 1980s horror vibe and Robert Englund’s presence, which adds a layer of cult appeal. latestnetflix.com's take is that however, many find the plot confusing, the pacing inconsistent, and the scares underwhelming, leaving the movie feeling more like a missed opportunity than a standout horror experience.
What viewers praise
- Retro horror aesthetic The film’s 1980s-inspired visuals and atmosphere are frequently praised for capturing the era’s survival horror charm.
- Robert Englund’s performance Englund’s return to horror is a highlight, with viewers noting his presence as a nostalgic draw for fans of classic horror.
- Creative premise The concept of a cursed retro video game forcing players into deadly choices is seen as intriguing and original by some.
Common complaints
- Confusing plot Many viewers find the story hard to follow, with disjointed pacing and unclear rules for the game’s mechanics.
- Weak scares The horror elements are often described as underwhelming, with jump scares and tension failing to deliver genuine fright.
- Underdeveloped characters The cast, aside from Englund, is seen as lacking depth, making it difficult to invest in their fates.
- Inconsistent tone The film’s mix of horror, sci-fi, and thriller elements is criticized for feeling uneven and tonally disjointed.
Recommended for
Retro horror enthusiasts Robert Englund fans Fans of low-budget horror 1980s nostalgia lovers Casual horror viewers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Choose or Die (2022): The Horror Flick That Turned Retro Gaming Deadly
Toby Meakins’ Choose or Die (2022) dropped on Netflix with a premise as simple as it is sinister: a cursed retro video game forces players to make brutal choices—or die. Starring Iola Evans and Asa Butterfield, the film blends 80s nostalgia with modern horror, but behind the scenes, its production was anything but a game.
A Killer Concept: The Game That Plays You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HQKcmv-hBs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vUQYzZ_UZc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvtEtrggkNI
The movie’s hook—a sentient 1980s computer game called CURSR that traps players in real-life deadly scenarios—drew immediate comparisons to Squid Game . Netflix leaned into the hype, releasing trailers that teased the game’s eerie pixelated aesthetic and high-stakes "choose or die" mechanics . The film’s retro vibe wasn’t just set dressing; it was central to the plot, with the game’s glitchy, low-res graphics serving as a visual metaphor for the characters’ inescapable fate.
But where did the idea come from? While the evidence doesn’t spell out the origins of CURSR, the film’s director, Toby Meakins, has a background in short films and commercials, suggesting a knack for high-concept storytelling 
. The choice to center the horror on a vintage computer game—rather than, say, a haunted console—gave Choose or Die a fresh twist in a genre crowded with supernatural clichés.
Casting the Victims (and the Villain)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcSqa97I_hA
Iola Evans, who plays college student Kayla, anchors the film as the protagonist forced to navigate CURSR’s deadly challenges. Asa Butterfield, known for Sex Education and Hugo, plays her love interest, Isaac, while horror icon Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) appears as the enigmatic game designer, Hal . The supporting cast—including Eddie Marsan, Angela Griffin, and Ryan Gage—rounds out a roster of characters who quickly learn that the game’s "choices" are anything but fair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2zeih7X3Fw
Englund’s involvement was a coup for the film, adding a layer of genre credibility. His character, Hal, is shrouded in mystery, with trailers hinting at his dark connection to CURSR . While the evidence doesn’t reveal whether Englund improvised any of his lines or brought his own ideas to the role, his presence alone suggested Choose or Die was aiming for more than just jump scares.
Mixed Reactions: Did the Game Glitch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YenL0vTmKs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyhj3RFRk34
Critics and audiences were divided. On SensCritique, the film earned a lukewarm 4.3/10 from over 1,200 votes, with some praising its ambition but others calling it derivative . YouTube reviews were similarly split, with one commentator ranting about the film’s pacing and predictable twists during a first-time watch , while another praised its stylish visuals and tense atmosphere .
One recurring complaint was the film’s reliance on familiar horror tropes. The "cursed object" premise isn’t new, and Choose or Die’s execution didn’t always escape the shadow of bigger-budget horror films. Still, its retro gaming angle and Englund’s casting gave it enough novelty to stand out in Netflix’s crowded horror lineup.
Behind the Scenes: What We Don’t Know
For all its buzz, Choose or Die’s production remains largely under wraps. There’s no evidence in the retrieved snippets about on-set drama, budget constraints, or whether the cast bonded over retro gaming sessions. Rumors about a potential sequel or spin-off haven’t surfaced either—though given Netflix’s appetite for franchise-friendly horror, it wouldn’t be surprising if CURSR made a comeback.
One unanswered question: How much of the game’s design was practical versus CGI? The trailers showcase CURSR’s pixelated graphics in stark contrast to the film’s live-action horror, but there’s no confirmation on whether the production used real vintage hardware or digital recreations .
The Verdict: A Flawed but Fun Ride
Choose or Die may not have reinvented the horror wheel, but it delivered exactly what its trailers promised: a high-stakes, retro-tinged nightmare with a body count. For fans of Englund or 80s nostalgia, it was a fun, if forgettable, watch. For others, it was a reminder that not every "choose your fate" story sticks the landing.
One thing’s certain: CURSR’s game over screen never felt so final.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.