A father, "Richards" (Glen Powell), desperate to secure essential medicine for his young daughter and his family, enters a dangerous television game show. The promise is immense: thirty days of survival will bring him untold wealth and the ability to provide for them all. However, he quickly discovers that this competition won't be fair, as made clear by the show’s controller "Killian" (Josh Brolin). It’s designed to be harsh, with citizens incentivized to report his location for a reward, allowing “hunters” to pursue and eliminate him. Richards isn't an action hero; he’s an ordinary man who works out regularly and values his family – so how can he possibly adapt and endure against betrayal and gunfire? The film begins well, and Powell, as always, seems to understand that part of his appeal lies in his willingness to appear with minimal clothing. But once the main plot unfolds, it feels strikingly similar to “The Hunger Games,” complete with distant television cameras and energetic live broadcasting by "Bobby T" (Colman Domingo). There’s a fleeting appearance from William H. Macy that could have been performed by almost anyone, and if you look carefully, you might notice Sandra Dickinson as she and Michael Cera try to offer some much-needed emotional support to the contestant. Richards earns money for each kill and for every day he remains alive, which reinforces the video game feel of these adventures, with escalating risks and him gradually transforming into a character like John Wick. Unfortunately, the feeling of threat diminishes amid an endless string of foreseeable special effects and explosions. It's also possible that Powell wasn’t ideal casting; while handsome and charming, he doesn’t seem believable as things intensify, nor do Brolin or Domingo, who both lean too heavily into their performances. The movie could easily be trimmed by thirty minutes without losing its core meaning, and I couldn’t help but feel it was released too soon after “The Long Walk,” which shares a similar premise and is superior in execution. It's adequate entertainment, but I doubt it will stick with me any more than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s earlier, less dynamic version from 1987.

Source on TMDB