It isn't a bad film in the least, it just isn't that good either.
Josh (Jeremiah Watkins) is a nerdy app reviewer who is down on luck in life, he's lost his girlfriend, can't afford to pay the bills etc.
He comes across an app called I-Lived which is basically an app to give advice on how to make your life better. Or so it seems.
The user of the app has to ask it to help with certain problems, then the app will tell you what exactly needs to be done to achieve a solution.
However, the app starts to become more and more sinister as time progresses and Josh becomes a better (?) person, who is also slowly losing his sanity.
Sounds interesting right?
Well for some reason, I haven't seen any movies that have gotten it nailed.
For the last few years, there's been an influx of horror movies based on apps, whether on the phone or computer. We have this one for example, the far superior dutch movie 'APP' (which still isn't that good), 'Unfriended', and we're getting another one called 'Friend Request' soon. I remember a Japanese one too but can't remember the title, although even the most recent Ring films are using phones for Sadako's ring virus to travel.
I can understand the sudden obsession in horror movies with these sorts of social networking apps, but for the life of me just can't understand how none of them have managed to get it right.
This one for example is far too goofy to take it seriously and the acting isn't anywhere near what it should be in a horror film, you want your actors to genuinely come across as afraid or confused when in situations like the ones shown, you don't want them to come across as they're taking a part in a comedy sketch.
The reveal toward the end comes across as ridiculous as possible, it's trying to be serious but the acting brings it down and the sight of the I-Lived developer stood perfectly in front of horns on the wall to make it look like they're coming out of his head just make it downright silly.
There's also an app on the Play Store which you can download to sync with the movie, at certain places it sends you fake texts/images/video.
But it rarely works properly.
Just read the reviews on it, download, install and try it if you want but there's no guarantee it'll work.
From the person who brought us the Maniac remake, I was expecting much more, but then that movie was probably helped by the acting chops of Elijah Wood to be honest.
I-Lived is worth a watch but for me personally, I wouldn't care to own it.
Second Sight have unfortunately crapped out on us with this release, it seems all of their re-releases of old movies are great, they usually do a brilliant job in restoring the movies and put many interviews and other special features on the discs, whereas with new releases, including this one, are completely bare bones.
Not a single special feature and if you're deaf you're also out of luck considering it doesn't even have subtitles.
I-Lived is out now digitally but to preorder the dvd, you can click here.
In all, I'd give this movie:
4.5/10
The dvd release of it, less, thanks to no subtitles or special features.
But you may end up liking it more than I, if it's your type of movie. Like I said, it isn't the worst but it isn't anywhere near the best either.