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.
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.
– Vadim Rizov,
L.A. Weekly,
10 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
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
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:
It's a deeply cynical and joyless point of view, completely lacking in the winking visual style that made Crank worth a look.