Choose or Die 2022

Hal, a married man immersed in a dysfunctional family dynamic and an avid collector of retro video games, stumbles upon an interactive fiction game titled CURS>R. Initially believing it to be a mere throwback to classic 1980s text-based adventures, he quickly discovers that the game holds an ominous reality when objects around him start to engage with the gameplay, leading to severe consequences for his family.

Fast forward three months, we meet Kayla, portrayed by Iola Evans, a college student who balances a cleaning job to fund her education. She has a tech-savvy friend, Isaac, played by Asa Butterfield, who assists her in learning to code as she navigates her coursework. Unfortunately, Kayla’s mother, Thea (played by Angela Griffin), has spiraled into drug addiction following the tragic death of her son, Ricky. Compounding the situation is Lance, portrayed by Ryan Gage, a predatory rent collector who exploits Thea’s vulnerability, forcing her into a life of drugs and prostitution to avoid eviction.

One evening, while visiting Isaac, Kayla encounters the CURS>R game and is drawn in by a tantalizing offer of a $125,000 prize. After calling the game’s number, she receives a chilling message from the Terror Director, urging her to complete the game and input a specific code to claim the reward. Eager for easy money, she enlists Isaac as her partner in this questionable venture. As she begins playing the game in a cafe, the horrifying nature of CURS>R reveals itself—one level culminates in a waitress gruesomely consuming broken glass.

The following day, alarmed by the turmoil she witnessed, Kayla attempts to terminate the game by destroying its tape, but finds herself confronted by disbelief from Isaac, who struggles to fathom the dark abilities of CURS>R.

As Kayla endures a graveyard shift, a frantic call from her mother plunges her deeper into chaos. It becomes evident that the game is encroaching upon real life, endangering Thea once more. As Thea falls from the window, she is hospitalized and Kayla, now desperate, teams up with Isaac to unravel the game’s sinister ties. They unearth a cryptic code embedded within the game’s sounds, theorizing it allows the game to manipulate reality.

In a harrowing ordeal, they face traumatic memories, including the haunting loss of Kayla’s brother. The duo manages to breach the storage location of CURS>R, uncovering its creator, Beck, who sinisterly embedded curses within these symbols for personal gain, thriving on the anguish of players.

As they get closer to a solution, the game ensnares Isaac in a deadly trap, forcing Kayla into a race against time to save him, but resulting in his demise. Given a final command to “beat the boss,” Kayla finds herself facing Hal, portrayed by Eddie Marsan, who is entwined with the game’s dark legacy and now harbors a sadistic relationship with his family, torturing his wife Laura (played by Kate Fleetwood) and son Gabe.

Hal reveals that he bargained with the game, agreeing to perpetuate its cycle in exchange for his family’s safety. A brutal clash ensues as the game forcefully intertwines their pain, leaving them to endure each other’s suffering in a graphic display. As the struggle reaches its peak, Kayla manages to best Hal, ultimately reclaiming the power from CURS>R.

In a decisive twist, Kayla harnesses her newfound control over the curse to eliminate Lance, thereby healing herself and her mother. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the building where Kayla worked is linked to Beck. Facing a choice, Kayla’s resolute determination shines as she declares her intention to target only those who truly deserve it.