Entertaining for the first 45 minutes. The second half of the movie, not so much. It became a little strange and looked low budget, like they ran out of funding half way through filming. Nevertheless, the film wasn't bad. Not something I'd watch again but I wouldn't say it was a waste of time. 5 stars
42 Reviews
May be a 'so bad it's good' kinda flick one day
TheBeardedWonder4 April 2021
Maybe, maybe not, who knows. But I had a blast watching this and ripping into it. I'm pretty sure everyone is in on the joke while making it and just went for it. Ron is great and some parts make no sense and I swear they themselves even point it out sometimes. If you can find a copy for cheap or streaming somewhere eventually, I'd 'highly' recommend it with some friends and drinks and anything else you use to have fun.
Lots of filler with little substance.
Top_Dawg_Critic9 March 2021
Not sure why actor Alan Ritchson turned producer, writer and director - also cast in his own film, decided to make this film into a parody-type childish humor production. It was riddled with plot and technical issues, long dragged out and unnecessary scenes, and lots of ridiculous eye candy that was too much filler for the little substance this film had.
Even though the pacing was decent, the 104 min runtime felt much longer and the too much useless blah blah dialogue made it even that much more annoying. This film needed shorter to-the-point scenes and at least 20 mins cut out of the runtime. The story-telling theme started off OK, but then became infantile once the actors started acting like children. Had Ritchson added an actual treasure map and cast Nicholas Cage, I may have enjoyed it more.
The humor was very lame, cheesy and forced, and only provided a few giggles, thanks in part to Ron Funches' funny demeanor. The casting and acting was actually decent, as were the visuals and set pieces. The score was on point as was the cinematography. I just wish the story took a more serious approach instead of the tween target audience theme, it could've been a hit. Nevertheless, it was a decent production from a newb filmmaker.
Even though the pacing was decent, the 104 min runtime felt much longer and the too much useless blah blah dialogue made it even that much more annoying. This film needed shorter to-the-point scenes and at least 20 mins cut out of the runtime. The story-telling theme started off OK, but then became infantile once the actors started acting like children. Had Ritchson added an actual treasure map and cast Nicholas Cage, I may have enjoyed it more.
The humor was very lame, cheesy and forced, and only provided a few giggles, thanks in part to Ron Funches' funny demeanor. The casting and acting was actually decent, as were the visuals and set pieces. The score was on point as was the cinematography. I just wish the story took a more serious approach instead of the tween target audience theme, it could've been a hit. Nevertheless, it was a decent production from a newb filmmaker.
Confused, ridiculous and awkward.
nevaless18 March 2021
This movie felt like 5 different movies mashed together and tried way too hard to be anything other than cliche and cringey. The storyline was so ridiculous at points and it was like it was being written as it was shot. Nothing tied together, no real conclusion/pay-off with a few cheap laughs along the way. Oof..
not worth watching
lonermon-826919 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Problems i have with this movie
#1 bartenders make decent money #2 the entire courtroom scene is beyond ridiculous #3 cleaning bitcoin ? #4 the librarian JUST happens to have cicado 3301 on the screen #5 every other thing about this movie
#1 bartenders make decent money #2 the entire courtroom scene is beyond ridiculous #3 cleaning bitcoin ? #4 the librarian JUST happens to have cicado 3301 on the screen #5 every other thing about this movie
The ending killed it for me
keridb21 March 2021
At it's core this movie has good acting with a plausible premise. The beginning is solid. Opening at the end, and then tossing us back to the beginning. It offers clever wit, sarcasm, and a generally likeable protagonist. The middle slowly becomes slightly predictable... then downright strange. But it's the twist ending that killed it for me. It's not only illogical, but the message it sends, is categorically wrong. The ramifications of the protagonists "actions" to get out of his current predicament, would result in country wide consequences. The theoretical idea of "sticking to the man" is utopian. And though I understand it's JUST a movie, in my experience, too many people take the "make believe" out of context.
So, for me, they took a movie with great potential and made a mockery of an opportunity for something epic.
>>Disclaimer: this is just MY OPINION, and is not intended to offend anyone with different views.
>>Disclaimer: this is just MY OPINION, and is not intended to offend anyone with different views.
Boring and nonsense
pamelatovargs14 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Even an adult movie has a better script.
This movie is absolutely ridiculous and I don't know who was worst actor, the girl from the library, the girls's mother or the H-c4er.
The "court" looks like a painted warehouse with 3 tables and 8 extras.
(I know not everyone has the $ to make a movie) but they could change the scene in just a legal notification or something more credible.
It was fun
hudakp-566808 March 2021
It sucked
Stellarburnout7 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
As a participant in and codesolving enthusiast of the cicada solving community from time to time, I am deeply disappointed. The script was poorly written and lacked cohesion. H4ck3r wannabe meets b0nd wannabe. I'm no Nicholas Cage, but even the snark was sad sauce. The writers were probably lurikng in irc and discord the whole time stealing ideas from chat logs. Thus far, I have not even left my house in attempting to solve this puzzle. If we could all scream at the sky and say "show yourselves", it would've saved us all a lot of time. Loved the Iron Man 3 twist at the end. Where's my deer mask?!?
Buckets of Poison
nogodnomasters13 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Connor Black (Jack Kesy) has a superpower. It is math. The film opens with him cuffed and talking to the NSA. He is explaining his involvement with the hacking group Cicada 3301. He enhances the story to make it enjoyable. He starts out as a bartender shut out of his apartment attempting to solve an on line riddle of Cicada 3301. He is aided by a librarian (Conor Leslie) and best friend (Ron Funches).
This was a fun comedy. You did not know where it was going to go.
Guide: F-word, sex, nudity.
This was a fun comedy. You did not know where it was going to go.
Guide: F-word, sex, nudity.
Sucked but Funny as F*@&!
tsroque8 March 2021
Understand Context and the Shallowness of Depth - Good Movie
PartialMovieViewer3 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Based on something true? Well, something is based in fact. Actually, most every Hollyweird Story has some very small crumb of truth to it. Is this important@? To me, no. I look for a movie that has pace; one that is well acted; a story with a plot, a beginning, a middle an end and tight casting. From the beginning to the wacky, until the stupid, silly assed ending - well done by a young writer. The loud lecture about saving the world at the end - meh - too puerile. Suggestion, stay with a good story and don't rush the ending. Fun movie, it could have been better.
The worst Scenario!
km76824 March 2021
Good looking guy with 156IQ (hyper intelligent) but no cent in his pocket. With his prepotency and arrogant character, he knows everything the best. The legs on the table in the front of the Judges is one of the most stupid scenes. Or angry big-fat-afro-American woman (deja vu) synonymous for ,,today,, USA citizen. One Star from me. I couldn't watch till the end.
If you liked Dark Web: Unfriended, this is not it.
steveorr-0159920 July 2021
Warning: This is NOT a movie about evil computer hackers/killers preying on the unwary. It is a satirical spoof with over-the-top acting.
I only got through this because I made myself. My interest was gone after 20 minutes.
The court scenes are so ridiculous I just couldn't stand it. The overachievement of an underachieving bartender was stupid beyond belief.
The masquerade ball made absolutely no sense, as well.
I couldn't find much redeeming value as I was expecting something similar to Dark Web: Unfriended. The librarian was hot and the buffoon NSA agent was good for a couple chuckles.
I only got through this because I made myself. My interest was gone after 20 minutes.
The court scenes are so ridiculous I just couldn't stand it. The overachievement of an underachieving bartender was stupid beyond belief.
The masquerade ball made absolutely no sense, as well.
I couldn't find much redeeming value as I was expecting something similar to Dark Web: Unfriended. The librarian was hot and the buffoon NSA agent was good for a couple chuckles.
If you're interested in Cicada...this is not your movie
cnavi-6091421 November 2021
This movie is about a guy who thinks he's in Goodfellas, or maybe a Tarantino movie. He narrates his whole life, there's ridiculous slo-mo, and over the top...everything. The actors behave as though they just received the script and when they forgot their lines would just use a curse word. It's a incoherent aggregation of scenes tied together only by the main actor telling you via voiceover all of the obvious parts. Maybe you are looking for a movie like Guns Akimbo, in which case, this is similar (though less action) and you're set. But if not, good luck.
Far better than expected but could have been a lot more
abisio18 October 2021
Dark Web Cicada 3301 has a very interesting story; some well defined (but not totally) characters and decent acting / charisma.
The story is told (in comedy mode) by a very unreliable narrator that makes some things funny but others difficult to understand or unexplained.
The unexplained/unresolved situations conspire with the logic in the third act; but the surprising ending kinda restore it.
The movie was made with a limited budget; so action scenes are scarce but some technical knowledge was applied to the script making the computer scenes and the puzzles believable .
In brief; if you like techno thrillers is really a good watch; with good and not PC ending.
The story is told (in comedy mode) by a very unreliable narrator that makes some things funny but others difficult to understand or unexplained.
The unexplained/unresolved situations conspire with the logic in the third act; but the surprising ending kinda restore it.
The movie was made with a limited budget; so action scenes are scarce but some technical knowledge was applied to the script making the computer scenes and the puzzles believable .
In brief; if you like techno thrillers is really a good watch; with good and not PC ending.
This is not a comedy film! Not laughable, and full of annoying overuse scene! Not recommended!
kwenchow14 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This film start with a man "Connor" running away from a bunch of cops, and he fell from the building scene! As turnout, this film is about Connor need to helping the FBI to take down the so called secret society "Cicada 3301"! Entire film full of boring conversation, and annoying overuse scene! Such as, overuse of the slow motion scene, overuse of the drinking scene, overuse of the eating scene, overuse of the driving scene, overuse of the hallucinate scene, overuse of the kissing scene, overuse of the copulate scene, overuse of the calling names scene, overuse of the arguing scene, and overuse of the cracking code scene! Make the film unwatchable! Barely intense scene is Agent Carver shot at Phillip's head to kill him! At the end, Connor walks free from the chargers on him! Still have a post credit scene! Agent Carver fighting with the guard while returning the page of a book! That's it! Another disappointed film!
An entertaining comedy-thriller
teacherianmitchell10 July 2021
I was expecting a horror, although I admittedly based that on the name of the movie and the poster.
I was a little surprised to find this fun, intriguing (if a little goofy at times), thriller that kept me engaged throughout.
Like a funner version of the Da Vinci Code in a way, this movie was a great little find - it won't set the world on fire, but as long as you know what you are going in for, it's a lot of fun.
I was a little surprised to find this fun, intriguing (if a little goofy at times), thriller that kept me engaged throughout.
Like a funner version of the Da Vinci Code in a way, this movie was a great little find - it won't set the world on fire, but as long as you know what you are going in for, it's a lot of fun.
So bad..
OdardTheGreat6 February 2022
Enjoyed it.
marineprincess13 March 2021
I will say as a long time, curious follower of Cicada 3301 puzzle / internet mystery I was curious to see what this would be about. I went in thinking it would be cheesy and was critical right away, but I stuck with the film and I'm glad I did, I enjoyed it. It was close with half truths, the cast I loved, I thought Gwen was beautiful and everyone was entertaining. I would watch it again.
One dimensional but still rich
kosmasp15 November 2021
The characters here seem quite one dimensional, especially when it comes to the humor they create. I quite enjoy silly, though even for me it gets quite borderline at times. But the characters and the actors are doing a mighty fine job and it really translates to the screen. So I was a bit in the forgiving mood one could say (flaws and all that).
Of course the ending may kill the entire mood the movie created, on the other hand I'd argue the movie was really aiming for that ... it's not really entirely unexpected ... a bit of fun, nothing more and nothing less. Still offensive to some I can imagine.
Of course the ending may kill the entire mood the movie created, on the other hand I'd argue the movie was really aiming for that ... it's not really entirely unexpected ... a bit of fun, nothing more and nothing less. Still offensive to some I can imagine.
Half truths
Stanlee1079 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This a dark humour thriller that is watchable enough. I like that it doesn't take itself too seriously & pokes fun & ridicule the seemingly inept secret police officers.
The story evolves around the protagonist at a court hearing & him recollecting the events (often caricaturing the police's work in more than unflattering portrayal giving moments of comedy) that transpired to land him in this position. It reminds me of Boss Level but not as good.
The story evolves around the protagonist at a court hearing & him recollecting the events (often caricaturing the police's work in more than unflattering portrayal giving moments of comedy) that transpired to land him in this position. It reminds me of Boss Level but not as good.
Ratchet
payasoingenioso18 July 2021
Jack Kesy playing a genius seems like a stretch.
It does not make sense with his character's personality.
What is the motivation for anyone to be involved with Cicada?
The humor is decent. It pads all the implausibility well.
The movie is not deep. It's highly superficial. No intellectual point was made, and the action, thrill, and mystery are not well paced.
And the endings...
It does not make sense with his character's personality.
What is the motivation for anyone to be involved with Cicada?
The humor is decent. It pads all the implausibility well.
The movie is not deep. It's highly superficial. No intellectual point was made, and the action, thrill, and mystery are not well paced.
And the endings...
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