Introduction and Synopsis"Playback" is an American supernatural horror movie written and directed by Michael Nickles, released in 2012. The film stars Christian Slater, Toby Hemingway, Johnny Pacar, and Ambyr Childers.
Precursor, a village in Michigan, holds a grisly trick: a notorious murder spree conducted by a local high school student, Harlan, resulted in the massacre of his whole household. The film takes off with a group of analytical high school students looking into Harlan's criminal offense for a school project, aiming to re-enact it for a film they plan to send for a college scholarship.
Plot SummaryJulian, teenaged lead character, conducts the majority of the research for the project by dealing with numerous pieces of film devices passed down to him by his departed father, not understanding they are linked to the violent past they are digging into. As Julian dives deeper into the secret, he stumbles upon an old news broadcast about the murders tape-recorded on a VHS tape. Unbeknownst to him, the playback of the VHS video incites a malicious spirit that begins by haunting the trainees' electronics, acquiring power through each play.
As soon as the spirit comes back, it leaps from one digital device to another, growing more powerful and wreaking havoc along the way. The violence and horror increase as soon as the spirit takes control of Julian's good friend, Quinn, who becomes a reluctant vessel for its murderous intentions.
Meanwhile, a former police officer turned security personnel, Frank (played by Christian Slater), includes another angle to the plot. Frank is associated with illicit activities, exploiting teenagers by recording intimate videos for a perverted, pedophilic customers. He gets intertwined with the main plot as the demonic spirit haunting the town catches his attention.
Final Act and ConclusionAs the had Quinn leaves a trail of bloody murders in his path, Julian must deal with the haunting past of his town and challenge the demonic spirit launched through the playback. The climax of the film moves to your home where the initial murders occurred years earlier, with Julian attempting to save his sweetheart, Riley, from Quinn's clutches.
In the final act, Julian uses an old electronic camera to capture the spirit, drawing it from Quinn and trapping it within the device. However rather than ruining the camera, he leaves it within the monument of Harlan's initial home - a haunting end suggesting that the murderous cycle might someday continue.
Last Thoughts"Playback" is heavily affected by urban legends and has a cinematic design reminiscent of popular horror films from the late 90s and early 2000s. Despite some plot disparities and uninspired character development, "Playback" handles to pull together several shocking and suspenseful scenes. Although it received negative reviews from critics for its cliched story and inadequate scares, the movie tried to discuss the contentious issue of real-life violence somehow triggered by representations in the media.
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