My Review Of "3 Lives"

"3 Lives" is a suspense thriller directed by Juliane Block and stars Mhairi Calvery, Anatole Taubman, Victor Alfieri, and Tyron Ricketts. "3 Lives" is a straight forward, survival, horror with a mystery twist.

Emma wakes up to find herself trapped in an abandoned bunker. She soon realizes that there are two other victims trapped with her, Ben and Jamie, who she knows from her days in high school. Now Ben and Jamie are Emma’s only means of escape from their savage captors, three ex-soldiers. Faced with the choice to stay in the bunker or to escape her kidnappers with the help of her former rapist and his old friend, Emma chooses the latter.
 
Ruthlessly the ex-soldiers chase the group through the wilderness. While Emma tries to find out why Ben, Jamie, and herself have been kidnapped in the first place. Slowly matters start to spin out of control, facades start to crack and Emma has to learn who her real enemy is.   

"3 Lives" is an intense character driven thriller that explores both the primitive desire to survive and the more sinister intent of revenge. The story is creative, even though it's premise is recognizable, and classic. Characters involved in a violent sex crime thrown into a situation requiring them to help one another while not trusting anyone. It is a smart way to attack a harsh, cruel reality in society. (No spoilers)

The characters are richly developed, even though they are stereotypical tropes. The cast envelope these tragic souls with total conviction, and believability. The drama moves in pace with the action, which starts right out the gate. There are moments when the story almost seems erratic, but so is the situation and the characters state of mind. It just adds to the suspense and thriller aspect. 

The only real downside I had was the lack of death and a need for a more violent drive in the onscreen action. What we do get is done well in relation to the story. It made sense to how the story ends, plus it lends a cathartic moment for the main character. Still I would have liked to see a bit more death earlier in the film.

Overall, "3 Lives" is a smart, intense indie thriller. It won't appeal to the "thrill kill kids" but there is such a potent story, and plenty of melodrama permiating atmospherically. The cinematography is excellent. Check this one out, definitely. (3.5/5)