We live in a society that is ruled by the need to stay connected and “in the know” at all times. Social media is King, and nearly every generation guiltily relies on it to remain informed and to communicate with others. There is, of course, a darker side to the enormity of this kind of technology. The dark web exists, and with it comes a slew of dangerous predators. Death Count, directed by Michael Su, examines just how disturbing the dark side of the internet can get, and what it says about people and what they’re capable of.

Rachel (Sarah French) awakens as a prisoner in a cell, with no memory of how she got there, and soon discovers she’s not alone. There are seven other “prisoners” being held in cells adjacent to hers, all of whom are experiencing the same confusion and memory loss that she is. 

They’re soon greeted by a man via television screens who calls himself “The Warden” (Costas Mandylor). He informs them that they’re all participants in a game that is being broadcast online for thousands to see. The rules of the game are simple, but depraved; they all must go through a series of challenges where they will inflict pain and injury upon themselves using various items provided as weapons. If they comply, they’ll receive “likes” from those who are watching. The contestant with the most likes will win that particular challenge, and the one with the most wins under their belt will be the ultimate survivor. 

As hopeless and despicable as their situation seems, a group of cops led by Detective Casey (Michael Madsen) is in a race against the clock to figure out where the crimes are taking place, and get to the prisoners in time to save them.

While the premise certainly is lacking in originality (think Saw and Hostel), it ups the ante in sensational and gratuitous gore in extreme ways. Death Count is torture porn, through and through, and it makes no bones about it. You know full well what is about to unfold before the first injury takes place, and the filmmakers go out of their way to ensure that the shocks accelerate as the film progresses.

If you’re squeamish, this undoubtedly isn’t the movie for you. There is no holding back on the lengths these people will go to in order to survive, and the lingering camera shots on them hurting themselves, and the resulting gore, are enough to make even the strongest willed viewer avert their eyes.

And that’s what they’re going for. While in many ways this is overtly gratuitous, there is a larger message here, and a reason for everything that is taking place. All of these participants are being subjected to utter and total torture while being watched by countless curious onlookers online. It’s a clear statement on society, and the disconcerting, frightening side of voyeurism and humanity itself.

From a horror appreciation perspective, the practical effects are the standout here, particularly since it’s on an obviously small budget. The crew manages to do a lot with limited resources, and there are enough varied kill shots to make this a unique enough venture in an oversaturated genre.

French’s performance is convincing enough for you to really sympathize with her plight, and Madsen’s role as the determined, obsessed cop is a definite notch in the belt of his long and ubiquitous career. 

The script and editing are tight, thanks in part to writers Michael Merino and Rolfe Kanefsky, but Death Count isn’t without its flaws. It attempts to do too much in too short of a span of time, so there are many moments where it feels as though it could have benefited from not overdoing it. Those times when the camera lingers too long on a particularly gruesome scene are hard to stomach, and even though that’s the point of films centering on torture porn, it comes off as grating more than it does satisfying. It does leave you with some thought-provoking quandaries though, and those who have a strong enough stomach may find it a worthwhile watch.

 5 Out Of 10