Mind-control technology has taken society by a storm, a multiplayer on-line game called "Slayers" allows players to control human prisoners in mass-scale. Simon controls Kable, the online champion of the game. Kable's ultimate challenge becomes regaining his identity and independence by defeating the game's mastermind.
It's a deeply cynical and joyless point of view, completely lacking in the winking visual style that made Crank worth a look.
– Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Sep 2009
rotten:
Bodies and buildings blow up but this is carnage of the most lacklustre sort, with any momentum petering out long before it's "game over."
– Jason Anderson,
Toronto Star,
8 Sep 2009
rotten:
In the press materials Mr. Butler informs us enthusiastically that the movie "has all the hallmarks of Neveldine's and Taylor's sick, yet genius minds." At least he's half right.
– Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
8 Sep 2009
fresh:
Crank's Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor direct with their usual flashy brio, and basso profundo Keith David has a sublime cameo as a cop indignant at the thought of a pistachio peanut butter sandwich.
– Keith Uhlich,
Time Out New York,
9 Sep 2009
fresh:
Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor have slowly started garnering actual critical consideration for their Crank movies; with Gamer, they make another good case for taking them seriously.