Film Review: 'Countdown'

Having recently become a residential nurse at the hospital where she works, Quinn Harris (Elizabeth Lail) seems to have her life on track, even as she continues to deal with her mother's tragic death and the strain it's put on her relationship with her younger sister Jordan (Talitha Bateman). But then, Quinn learns about a new app that everyone seems to be getting: Countdown, which tells the user precisely how much time they have until they die.

When Quinn curiously downloads the app and sees that she apparently has only has three days left to live, she tries to dismiss it as a meaningless app. But after a patient who told her about Countdown dies at the time the app said he would, Quinn begins to fear for her life as she finds herself plagued by horrifying visions. As her death timer keeps ticking down and Quinn learns her sister is also in danger of the app, she'll have to race against the clock to save herself and Jordan before it's too late.

The odds seemed against Countdown as soon as word about its basic premise got out. Coming out a year after the similarly mocked-for-its-premise-alone horror film Truth or Dare, Countdown was dismissed as another lame PG-13 horror flick before it was even in theaters. But as with many films that receive such a level of pre-release hate, Countdown (aside from a good share of flaws) is not as irredeemably terrible as others have made it out to be.

Starting out with the basic premise of the film, Countdown does earn some of the flak its earned. Apart from the app throwing a touch of originality to the proceedings, the film can essentially be described as Final Destination mixed with any of the countless horror films over the last few years about an attractive young woman being hunted down by a murderous supernatural entity. By going down familiar paths with its unique premise, Countdown abandons more provocative uses of its concept and leaves several plot threads hanging without resolution. Who created the app and put it out on the market? Why would an entity attach itself to such modern technology? If the entity wants to ensure people die when they're destined to, why would they even create the app to begin with? Instead of having these questions addressed as the protagonists fight to save themselves, Countdown leaves them painfully unanswered, with a conclusion that does nothing but raise more questions as the characterizing rules set for the film's supernatural antagonist are swiftly broken.

In addition to loose plot threads, Countdown's plot also suffers from a slow start (which thankfully segues into a relatively consistent pace) and an uneven tone. Two of the film's side characters--snarky cell phone store clerk Derek and quirky priest Father John--appear as unexpected allies to Quinn, with both being played with effective humor by Tom Segura and P.J. Byrne respectively. There are also a few other effective dark comedy moments throughout the film, and had the film capitalized on this and given the film an overall darkly comical mood, Countdown might've had something to make it stand out. But unfortunately, these moments end up sticking out like sore thumbs in a movie that otherwise plays itself completely straight. The moments are nonetheless enjoyable, but would've been more so had they been in a movie that matched their dry wit.

While the plot might be riff for weak spots, the same can't be said for Countdown's casting. Elizabeth Lail of You fame makes Quinn a likable and sympathetic heroine, with her best moments being when Quinn transforms from a scared girl trying to run away from the horror she's inadvertently let into her life to a fierce young woman willing to face off with evil to save herself and those she cares about. Jordan Calloway is similarly likable and charming as Quinn's unexpected ally Matt, and brings a lot of emotion to his character when Matt's tragic past is explored. He and Lail share strong chemistry as their quest to find answers and save themselves leads to them forming a supportive friendship.

(SPOILER ALERT However, the script makes Quinn and Matt severe victims of red string strangulation, with Quinn and Matt forming romantic interest in each other for literally no discernible reason. It was as if writer Justin Dec didn't believe that Matt's abrupt demise would be powerful enough without a tragically cut-short romance thrown in. Weirdly enough, though, apart from a brief moment of grieving right after it happens, Matt's death never appears to leave any lasting effect on Quinn and Matt is forgotten about as quickly as his character was introduced) Spoilers Over

Talitha Bateman is a surprise standout among the cast, with Jordan starting the film out as your average bratty little sister before the events of the film break down Jordan's emotional layers. Bateman throws herself into these moments when Jordan is at her most vulnerable, with the climax having Bateman giving an absolutely heartbreaking performance. Bateman and Lail also share strong chemistry as troubled sisters who--under it all--still love and care about each other, allowing you to connect with both sisters and root to see their relationship survive both their estrangement and the supernatural entity that's threatening their lives. Finishing off the supporting cast is the sleazy Dr. Sullivan, who Peter Facinelli initially plays with natural charm before shifting to skin-crawling nastiness once Sullivan's true nature is revealed. And while Quinn's subplot with Dr. Sullivan initially appears to be a superfluous effort to incorporate real-world issues into the film's plot, it ultimately proves to be necessary for the climax and allows for Facinelli to really throw himself into Sullivan's dark side.

Justin Dec revealed in an interview that Countdown originated as a short film, and seeing how many plot and pacing issues arose from the feature length rendition, I can't help but imagine that this story would've been better if it had remained with a condensed runtime--and thus, left with less room for unnecessary padding and unexplored plot threads. But while the plot has its share of pitfalls, Countdown remains an entertaining horror film when it manages to find its footing, thanks in part to a cast that brings compelling sincerity and emotion to their characters. The potential lost with its flawed story is disappointing, as is the continuity-mangling ending. But if you're looking for a modestly fun horror flick that has enough to counteract its wobbly writing, Countdown may be worth checking out.

Score: 5 out of 10 robot dinosaurs.