Prank (I) (2013) User Reviews

Mostly a waste of time

[victoryismineblast · 3/10 · 25 January 2014]

Prank is the story of two bullied geeks and their sometime friend, a chubby girl with the unlikely name of "Chunk", who decide to pull a prank on their two tormentors.

This is all filmed with a semi-broken camcorder that one of them is always using to film the action. A few pranks are planned but nothing really pans out.

Here is where my criticism of the movie begins. Most of the dialogue seems forced. Chunk's dialogue in particular is so stupid that it takes you out of the movie. Every other sentence she utters concludes with the word "man."

All of the characters are portrayed as stereotypes, from the black man to the geek to the bully etc. This becomes grating after a while. Nothing interesting happens for long periods of time, and then one of the characters has a total personality change and at least some things start to happen.

What does happen, though, isn't really that interesting, as we don't really care for any of these unsympathetic people or their actions.

There are a couple of things that do happen in the last 15 minutes or so that save this from being a total waste. I would have voted a 1 had it not been for a couple of semi-interesting twists.

overused format, unsubstantiated plot twists, thin

[troymcgarrigle · 4/10 · 19 June 2013]

unsubstantiated is the word that came to mind throughout this movie, as well as clichéd. there was very little reason for a camera to be carried by the character through much of the movie. also the actions of the characters were not in keeping with who they were portrayed to be leading up to their actions.

it started out with a bit of promise, but the plot twist could be seen from a mile away.

thin, hackneyed, not at all gripping, with no point, and very little to say about bullying. in the end it was a movie about nothing that meant nothing.

A failure to execute ◆≈≈4/10≈≈◆

[Thrill_KillZ · 4/10 · 20 June 2013]

Potentially, this film could have been a seriously disturbing flick. The reason it failed in my eyes wasn't because of the hand-held cam, it wasn't even that the acting was extremely dreadful, as it was in fact acceptable enough. When taking on a subject like this, there should be one major goal in the filmmakers minds of the utmost importance, make the story as realistic & believable as possible no matter what the cost, this just didn't occur.

The story consists of three social outcast nerds who, after years of abuse & bullying, decide it's time to stand up & turn the tables on one particular bully named Dax. It's the summer before their senior year and they feel as though maybe, if done correctly, this prank will redeem them in the eyes of their fellow classmates and possibly win the affection of a certain girl who one of them happens to have a crush on. Of course all of this is to be filmed & posted on the internet in hopes of a colossal payday which will finance the other boy's dream of hitting thirteen Star Trek conventions in a row, yes, lame indeed. Which brings me to another area of the film in which I felt was just lazy & completely unimaginative, the cardboard, cookie-cutter characters of the three nerds. They adhered to making them the most clichéd bunch of geeks ever concocted. Which was ultimately forgivable when looking at the big picture and the overall effect in which they were sequentially reaching for, to make the viewer uncomfortable, unsettled and inherently disturbed. A goal that was just not met.

I won't go into specifics of the plot that I felt led to the overall downfall of the film's believability, but I will say that the prank within a prank was not concealed well, it was completely obvious to me and it crippled the film's credibility beyond repair. The plot became completely disjointed & ultimately contradicted the premise set forth in the beginning. I know what they were reaching for here because I've seen it accomplished in other films quite well, where the viewer becomes immersed into the story and is left shocked & disturbed at the film's end because it was in fact so believable, not so in this case. I don't recommend wasting your time with this.

Can we stop making movies with a hand-held camera now?

[simon-d-cesair · 18 June 2013]

You might like this movie if you enjoyed: The Last Excorcism (2010), Chronicle (2012)

Long Story Short: Three teens plan to take revenge on their bully and document their every move on camera to show the creation of an epic prank. But things get out of hand and soon a fun idea turns into a nightmare.

Review: Prank is entirely filmed with a hand-held camera. The goal of these movies is to work with a low budget but also to create a more authentic atmosphere. We all remember the mother of these movies – The Blair With Project (1998) – and how excited everyone was to see this "real" footage. But the reactions were different: many loved it, some got nauseas, while others got bored or fell asleep. I think End of Watch was the only documentary-style movie that succeeded in what it was trying to do, and Chronicle was okay, too. But as far as the shooting-style goes this movie failed. The concept of Prank is very interesting and shows how far things can actually go when bully victims strike back, but at some point the story was all over the place and became totally unrealistic, but then again, when I think about it, things like that could actually happen. Or not? The acting was decent, the dialogues probably,too, but the constant turning on and off of the camera got on my nerves and I was more annoyed than interested. They definitely should have worked more on the storyline, given the the characters more depth, and made a regular movie. If you like these kind of movies watch it, otherwise I wouldn't really recommend it.

Rating: 4.5/10

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great cover, bad flick

[trashgang · 1/10 · 10 September 2013]

When this one came out here in Europe it was immediately sold for a few Euro's. That made me pick up this Blu Ray guess it was 2 or 3 Euro's and the cover looked promising.

The story is very simple. After being bullied for years it's time for revenge and a prank is set-up. But you have to sit throughout almost the whole flick to see the prank. It takes over 40 minutes before the red stuff comes in and things go awry you think. But two minutes later we are back to blah blah and that's exactly what we do have here. A lot of talking. The only thing I started watching was Connor's T-shirts. They were mostly funny. I could stand up to the hand held camera and the shaky movements. Yes, another found footage flick. But an extreme boring one. I just kept watching it to see of something would happen in stead of talking, it didn't.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 0/5 Story 1/5 Comedy 0/5

the worst thing ever

[oskarmat · 1/10 · 5 January 2014]

I am seriously starting to think that there are agencies been paid to write positive reviews on movies. I refuse to accept any of the 8 or 10 stars above are real. This is an utterly disgusting ... don't even sure if we call it a movie. Yes it is disturbing, but in the sense that you feel the urge to stand up and leave the place when you watch it. Ridiculous The most horrible movie is the attempt to be "smart" in a way that only results in a caricature- like description of bullied teens, as strong as to make you feel compelled to really bully these guys. And the acting , unmentionable to say the least. I cannot find anything to save in this thing, nothing at all

Utter Crap

[df4205 · 1/10 · 26 June 2013]

This has got to be, without a doubt, one of the worst movies I've seen in the past decade. And I've watched some Mystery Science style D-List dreck. This movie is one big outdated stereotype after another. From the geek that watches Star Trek, to the term "flaming" to describe gays, to the thug talking black guy who's going to give you his "8 inches of Black Thunder". The characters in this movie are all stereotypes taken to the extreme. From the nerd that talks as though he's trapped in a Shakespeare play and threatens the bullies with his dancing mincing Kara-Tey deadly weapons of hands. Then we move on to the token fat girl (who isn't even that big compared to most girls these days) nick-named "Chunk". The motivations of these people are beyond comprehension, there is no explanation for the lack of involvement by authorities other than one sentence of "I told them someone would call, and it would be a prank". As if any police, school, or child services isn't going to investigate the threat of multiple murders. ::Spoilers ahead:: The nerd decides to take revenge on the bully for dunking his head in a toilet filled with poop…by toilet papering his yard….yeah that's soooo extreme. The person revealed to be the mastermind behind the prank wasn't given nearly enough back story or exposition to explain their motivations. The best friend's behavior is just beyond explanation. And have I mentioned the Star Trek hatred? It's only the focus of 90 percent of this film. You would think that the writer of this drek had been molested or raped by a Star Trek fan or cast member to explain such endless rage against a TV show. There's a scene in the move where the geek and his friend dress up in the Star Trek costumes, only you can tell these are fake. Obviously the movie couldn't get the license for the real thing. Can you blame them? You've spent the entire movie driving home the point of: Anybody that watches Star Trek is a sexless geek that wears big glasses, talks like Shakespeare, and is such a sub-human monster that their very existence needs to be purged from the Earth. If the movie had kept going, it wouldn't surprise me if the townsfolk had burned the geek at the stake for crimes against humanity for watching a TV show. Never mind the fact that Star Trek will far outlive your crap fest of a movie, it brings in billions of dollars a year, and is currently being portrayed by some of Hollywood's most popular actors. But here's a simple fact. It's just a TV show! Is there really all this need to spend your entire movie spewing such trash about it? Some people like Star Trek, some people like the Jason Bourne movies. Shall I spend almost two hours talking about how they should all be rounded up and shot at dawn by firing squad? What's really sad is, the big payoff reveal scene actually had potential ::Spoilers:: when the trash bags came to life and started moving about, that could have actually been a cool scene, but by the time you got there, you couldn't care less anymore. Plus, the big reveal scene was a fake out. This is the effect of "it was all a dream" after you fake us out, we can't invest in the movie any longer, because we can't trust that the real ending was any less fake. But to sum this all up. Save your money, save your time, save your downloads, pick another movie to watch, any other movie, this one will give you an aneurysm.

Movie review?

[rockin2121 · 4/10 · 6 January 2017]

I haven't actually seen the movie but Its just a comment. You people make it impossible for me to trust any reviews when half of you say its a 10 and half say its horrible. It can't be both, lets be real. A ten is The Shining, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead, the Exorcist and I very much doubt this movie I am about to watch even comes close to that unless you are planting a review. So I beg you please think about what you are doing before you give every movie a 10, 9 or 8. thanks people!! I have to give this movie something so I will guess at a 5 and I bet it will be worse....Just this hope this helps for future raters!

Okay now I have see this movie and now I will rate it. It was not a 5 like I first guessed. It was definitely a 4.

This is something special

[bjjnedan · 4/10 · 30 July 2013]

Lemme clarify the title of this summary. special as in special ed. Anywho, 3 teens, actually only 2, plot revenge on a bully that bullies 1 guy, who wholeheartedly deserves it. Things go awry, blah, blah, it's not important.

Now on to this gem of a waste of time. Right away, the lead guy that's planned the prank is just the most irritating c*nt on the planet and he definitely should have been bullied a helluva lot more. Well, push comes to shove and the bullied abducts the bully. In the basement, or garage, wherever they held the abducted, it just became predictable. I'm not gonna say anymore, but if you watch the part when the initial nerd of all nerds comes into the... wherever the f*ck they are, after the jewfro kid *shoots* the bully and can't see what's coming, then you are too dumb to exist and should quit immediately. Overall, except for the one hot chick Eve, there is nothing worth seeing in this movie. Previous reviewers, what f*cking movie were you watching?

Implausible and pointless plot twist in third act ruins the movie

[Armin_Nikkhah_Shirazi · 4/10 · 20 May 2023]

PRANK is a found-footage film which records the attempts of a geek and a nerd, both high school students, to exact revenge on the former's bully and tormentor by means of a prank, which leads to unforeseen consequences.

I like found-footage movies, and the prank angle was, at least to me, a fresh take on the genre, not too mention that bullying in schools is a real-life topical issue. Indeed, while the acting was mostly stilted and the whole set-up seemed a tad too theatrical, the movie did manage to bring enough credibility to the table to at least draw me in.

What a disappointment then the plot twist in the third act was! Given the backgrounds of the two protagonists, it was simply not believable what one of them would end up doing. After the twist, it felt like events were simply happening in the service of a highly contrived plot, and I could easily predict the ending.

I guess there is an art to creating good plot twists: on the one hand, they cannot be too obvious, and on the other, they can't be so implausible or illogical that they cause the whole story to fall apart. There might have been a way to execute this twist in a believable manner, but it would have required the character in question to be drawn in a different way and a change in some earlier scenes which are not consistent with it.

Ironically, the plot twist makes absolutely no difference to what seems to be the central lesson of the movie "be careful for what you wish to happen to your bully". A better plot twist would have actually had a point.

Bully me not

[kosmasp · 4/10 · 15 June 2019]

When Pranks go bad - or are they going bad? What was the plan again? Now the main theme of the movie is really an interesting one and it may be the basis why the ratings are all over the place for this. Almost everyone has experienced bullying, either as a victim or as a perpetrator. Most have been the former of course and may feel for the main characters here.

Still liking the theme/story does not make it a better movie than it is. The found footage aspect I guess is supposed to draw some people in (and making it more "personal"), but it also is quite annoying. Like it or not, it is pretty straighforward and you will be able to determine if you want to continue to watch or not ...

More than just another dumb found footage film

[jackal12358 · 8/10 · 20 July 2013]

Funny to see that the one of the biggest gripes about this movie is that it's a found footage film. Yes there have been a slew of crap in the past few years that have tried to garner the success of the Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity series ilk, but it's unfair to lump this one in with the other hapless, pointless, and often boring as hell horror wannabes (have you seen The Devil Inside yet?) as this is a movie that actually tries to tackle a subject matter that is relevant to anyone who has ever struggled socially through high school. And it is not a feel-good story about how a kid gets bullied and he wins in the end. Oh no, you will be disappointed if you think you're in for a story that let's the underdog win. This is more like Hamlet, where your hero doesn't win, also known as a tragedy- no original Hollywood movie would ever let that happen so it should not surprise you that this is an independent film.

What makes this interesting and complex is that there are no good guys and that it does not depict bullying in the conventional sense. Yes there are stupid plans hatched by stupid kids and the portrayal of The Bully is nothing new- he's a smirking, white, jock type with very limited vocabulary and has an even dumber sidekick (Oh yes, there is a bitch cheerleader thrown in there too, with perhaps the best line in the film- something about being a blond cheerleader- watch for it). What makes this complex is the interaction of the two main kids as they themselves become no better than the jerks, and it is interesting to see each of their transformation as the situation spins out of control. It starts off a bit hokey after the opening scene but it moves quickly and is pretty entertaining so stick with it.

The real world doesn't seem to exist for these characters, which is accurate in how many teens can barely see beyond their self-centered existence and limited social circles. How else can they not see how ridiculous their "brilliant plan" and some of their actions are? But that is the point, isn't it? And they're annoying as hell too, which makes you kind of wish this was a slasher where Freddy Krueger eventually gets to all of them in some ways; however, if you pay attention, you'll see that this did try to be a movie with a message and that a smart theme exists.

I hope that kids who watch this get the bonus message that there is more to life than high- school. You just got to get through it first. Just try not to kill anyone or get killed in the process.

Don't let the DVD cover fool you- this movie is NOT about a killer clown with an iPhone.

Not bad

[rosnor2000 · 6/10 · 30 June 2013]

For what it was... not a badly done movie. It suffers not from style/story/effects, but rather the way it was filmed. It is filmed entirely from the point of view of a camera held by the characters in the movie. A big problem with these types of movies is that you end up having characters talking into the camera to replace the dialogue to further the story. This ALWAYS ends up feeling like they're breaking the fourth wall and it takes you out of the situation. This style really needs to be done minimally in my eyes.

I didn't really feel for any of the characters since they are all either horrible or irritating as people go. This diminishes the effectiveness of the ending a bit for me.

If you're looking for a low budget movie to watch its definitely better than a lot, but nothing all that unique here. I felt the murder scenes were all done quite well and looked pretty good. For the most part the acting was adequate also.

A funny, gripping, and entertaining film

[austin_ascher · 10/10 · 18 July 2012]

It's hard for me to sit through most independent films because they either look awful or are boring. Or worse, both. I understand that due to the lack of a big budget, an indie film won't look slick like the Hollywood films we are used to. But there is no reason for being boring--it's entertainment!! With that being said, this film is neither. Gripping and fast, with clever dialogue, it moves at a pace that forces you to pay attention. The premise is these two friends video taping themselves while trying to get back at their bully. And then it all goes to hell. You will not expect how it all ends. You think it's going to go one way and then it yanks you in the other, again and again. And as dark as the story is, there are some extremely funny moments. I really liked this film because it was funny, entertaining, and gripping. The phenomenal acting by the cast is also worth noting as we've all witnessed how bad acting can wreck a good story. My expectations of this film were absolutely exceeded. I wasn't sure I wanted to attend when I was invited to the premiere screening but I'm glad I went! The best part is, it's one of those films that keep you thinking about the themes of the film, the motivations of the characters, and the questions it raises after you've walked out of the theater.

A fascinating and near brilliant indie thriller that will leave you disturbed

[Robert_duder · 7/10 · 14 June 2013]

This film is so incredibly timely given all the happenings in recent years around school violence and bullying. It also has a number of strikes against it. Director and writer are one in the same, indie low budget film, no-name actors, and a hand cam "home video" style film...its usually a recipe for a disaster. This was anything but. This film proved that there are still brilliant newcomers out there that can make a solid low budget film with a great story. The film is not a horror movie per se though it certainly has moments of genuine gore and pure terror but its also a drama/thriller revolving around two young men who have been bullied for years by the school jock. The pacing of the film was only a little off. I thought it dragged a little especially in the beginning but I understand they were trying to really establish these characters and I can't fault them for that. I have seen so many hand-cam horror flicks lately and I am sick of them. I didn't think I could possibly enjoy a film done in that style again, it has been so overdone. Well for Prank it absolutely works. My biggest issue with hand-cam films is that it is almost always ridiculous that a camera would be running all this time. However, with Prank nearly every shot makes sense. You could reasonable understand why a camera would be on for the most part. It still is a stretch in some parts but less than most films of this type.

Our two lead actors are destined to be in bigger things if people see this. They were both excellent, plain and simple. They both have incredibly complex and well written characters and an incredible character arc to both of them. In the beginning I thought Nick Renaud was really stealing the show. He had this intensity and strength and stereotypical geek character that was trying to get his vengeance. Renaud was great and in the end when he shows his emotional breakdown, it is just terrific. Henry Monfries starts out as the distant, aloof sarcastic teenager and arcs into a near monster when his breakdown happens. He has easily some of the most visually brilliant scenes in the film. The blood stained "Kiss The Cook" apron is something you will not forget from this movie. The two of them together have great chemistry and a bizarre relationship that works. The supporting cast are all good and fit their roles well enough. None of them particularly stand out though Alastair Ferrie as the object of the vengeance, the bully Dax is particularly good. Gemmenne de la Peña seems like she is going to be really good but gets pulled from the film in the beginning and doesn't show up again hardly at all.

Director and writer Yiuwing Lam goes immediately to my "one to watch" list. He crafts this brilliantly and the cinematography is so well done for a low budget film and a hand-cam. The film has its faults of course but considering what it could be, they are easily overlook-able. Nonetheless I did have some issues. The main characters are incredibly stereotypical, cookie cutter "nerds." The multiple Star Trek references, the tape on the nose, just the entire existence of these two boys is lifted right from every nerd stereotype. Neither one of them are very likable at any given time but you certainly feel pity for them. The only other major plot hole that really bothered me was there are no adults in this film. No parents, no teachers, no adults of any kind. At one point we see a sister but other than that...nothing. They do try to explain away on of their fathers but it still isn't enough to make you forget about it. The ending was a little more complex than I would have liked. I appreciate a good twist and it made sense but somehow it made the film seem less impactful. Still it managed to turn it around and really get under your skin. Those of you that appreciate indie film making, this is one to check out. It is entertaining and disturbing and certainly worth a watch. 7/10

A Brilliantly Executed Prank

[atclubsilencio · 10/10 · 28 June 2013]

Clever, darkly humorous, shocking, and grim. Prank not only ranks as one of the best films of the year, but also one of the best of its kind of the decade. A cast of unknowns give brilliant performances, never hitting one false note. It all builds to a final hour of pure insanity, filled with unforeseen twists, jaw dropping imagery, and an ending that is as haunting as it is chilling and ambiguous. Do not skip out on seeing this gem of a film. Even if you aren't a fan of the found footage style, you'll be surprised how steady the camera is throughout. This is just a powerful and unforgettable experience. A film you'll see and never forget. You'll laugh, you'll squirm, you'll be riveted and you'll be left on the floor, beaten with a skateboard. I know there is still quite a year of great films ahead, but Prank will remain in my top ten no matter what. A timely new classic of it's genre. Brilliant.

And ignore the 3.7 IMDb user score. This is 20k times better then what 'found footage' films that get wide release distribution these days.

This is a new classic. You'd be damned to miss out on it.

A surprisingly complex, naturally acted thriller. Go see it. Now.

[vanjarenee · 9/10 · 18 July 2012]

This movie was definitely a surprise for me. I had seen some of the reviews and expected a really good movie. . .but I had no idea of how wonderfully unsettling and unforgettable it was going to be. Yiuwing Lam (Writer/Director) is such a compelling storyteller- weaving a dark humor, wit and intelligence throughout the entire screenplay. He used a "found footage" technique to tell the story, but some of the shots he sets up with lighting and shadows are so artistic. And I just couldn't take my eyes off Henry Monfries. His acting was so natural and every move.. .so authentic. And Nick Renaud deftly takes you on an emotional journey while still feeling so real. Something that stood out to me was this one line about perseverance. Both main actors say the same exact line for polar opposite reasons and there is something about that; it intrigued me. I keep coming back to that line in my mind. Overall, during the movie I laughed (albeit, nervously), I was creep-ed out, I was relieved and then. . .well, I can't tell you anymore. A must-see! In fact. . .I must see this again.

This film "stays" with you.

[pamamonfries · 8/10 · 17 July 2012]

We were pleasantly surprised and disturbed at the same time with this film. The acting makes you really feel what it must be like to be bullied over and over again for many years. The script is clever and smart and it is this that "stays" with you. The acting, filming and direction makes it seem like the events really happened. The filming is very creative but is done in a way that it seems like two kids would do it and this adds to the film's credibility. Prank is very suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat and it never enters your mind to leave and get popcorn or go to the bathroom. (That's how I gauge a good film.) The way the two main characters "grow" through the events is very convincing acting by Nick Renaud and Henry Monfries. And you imagine their lives post Prank as you're leaving the theater. I'm glad we saw it and I would definitely buy it.