Great concept. Quite decent acting. Enjoyable chaos. The only real drawback is a lack of believable motive. The origin of the app and the way it behaves seem so utterly disconnected. The reason for the disconnect, as I understand it, and a way it could be fixed is written below.
---Spoiler---
The app - IRIS - simply doesn't make sense.
I would buy the fact that it began as spy-ware and was possessed by Liesbeth's ghost or simply became unhinged after witnessing her death. I could definitely see this turning IRIS into a malevolent, possessive, controlling app. I could also see the app seeking revenge.
But what I find very difficult to swallow is that the same app that was used as spy-ware is knowingly utilized as an implant to help Ana's brother walk again. How is that technology linked, exactly? Why would a doctor be involved with implanting something so dubious? His hacker acquaintance doesn't give the impression of someone who would volunteer his tech for charity, and no mention of money is made. The connection between the doctor, hacker, app and implant is highly irrational.
I feel like this inconsistency would have been very easy to amend by simply claiming that the app was separate from the implant, and only learned to control it as a way of controlling Ana. Add a little more indication of why the app fixated on Ana and it would become a solid plot.
And if revenge against the hacker/Liesbeth's stalker was IRIS's motivation, then why did IRIS peacefully exist on his phone so long? Needs some explanation. I can think of a dozen potential ones.
---End Spoiler---
In any case, I enjoyed the split screen technology and the potential unhinged apps offer as a plot device. If you have some time to kill, I say to give this movie a watch just for kicks.
---Spoiler---
The app - IRIS - simply doesn't make sense.
I would buy the fact that it began as spy-ware and was possessed by Liesbeth's ghost or simply became unhinged after witnessing her death. I could definitely see this turning IRIS into a malevolent, possessive, controlling app. I could also see the app seeking revenge.
But what I find very difficult to swallow is that the same app that was used as spy-ware is knowingly utilized as an implant to help Ana's brother walk again. How is that technology linked, exactly? Why would a doctor be involved with implanting something so dubious? His hacker acquaintance doesn't give the impression of someone who would volunteer his tech for charity, and no mention of money is made. The connection between the doctor, hacker, app and implant is highly irrational.
I feel like this inconsistency would have been very easy to amend by simply claiming that the app was separate from the implant, and only learned to control it as a way of controlling Ana. Add a little more indication of why the app fixated on Ana and it would become a solid plot.
And if revenge against the hacker/Liesbeth's stalker was IRIS's motivation, then why did IRIS peacefully exist on his phone so long? Needs some explanation. I can think of a dozen potential ones.
---End Spoiler---
In any case, I enjoyed the split screen technology and the potential unhinged apps offer as a plot device. If you have some time to kill, I say to give this movie a watch just for kicks.