A Haunted Game Without a Winner

Read Time:4 Minute, 22 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
100 Candles Game: The Last Possession
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2023, 2025
Runtime: 1h 13m
Director(s): Carlos Goitia, Guillermo Lockhart, Andrés Borghi, David Ferino, Ryan Graff, Maximilian Niemann, Jerónimo Rocha, Arie Socorro
Writer(s): Camilo Zaffora
Cast: Magui Bravi, Nacho Francavilla, Josefina Inés Fariña, Justina Ceballos, Zhon Li, Agustin Olcese, Pachi Lucas, Iago Illescas, Maite Solsona, Brett DelBuono
Where To Watch: on digital January 13, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: The concept of turning ghostly tales into a game, where each story extinguishes a candle and raises the stakes, sounds like a recipe for tension and chills. THE 100 CANDLES GAME: THE LAST POSSESSION embraces this setup with a twist, placing a group of influencers at the center of the action. Combining ancient rituals with social media culture could have delivered a unique ride. Unfortunately, although better than the original film, this one stumbles, leaving an uneven mix of horror stories that occasionally shine but often fall flat.

Structured as an anthology, the central narrative is a backdrop for supernatural tales. The game is meant to tie everything together, but the links between the stories feel more obligatory than compelling. The anthology format, while offering variety, struggles with consistency. Some entries exhibit a spark of originality and creativity, such as "Let Her Go" and "Black Moon," which manage to inject genuine suspense and inventive twists. However, other segments fail to rise above tired tropes, with "Five Minutes" as a prime example of predictability and missed opportunities.

The film's short runtime —just over an hour—works for and against it. The rapid pace ensures that no single story overstays its welcome, but it also limits the time available for story and character development and any real depth. Many stories end abruptly, leaving loose ends or resolving conflicts too quickly to have any lasting impact. This lack of resolution diminishes the emotional stakes and makes it harder for viewers to invest in the outcomes of each chapter.

Visually, the film offers glimpses of what could have been a more cohesive and chilling experience. The creature designs showcase thoughtful craftsmanship, and the use of light and shadow creates moments of genuine eerieness. However, these moments are not consistent even across the anthology. Some stories rely heavily on generic visuals, and the CGI, while functional for the most part, occasionally shines a light on the limitations of the production budget. This inconsistency undercuts the film’s ability to sustain a sense of dread or unease throughout its runtime.

The overarching story about the influencers and their ill-advised “game” does little to elevate the experience. While blending social media culture with horror is intriguing, the execution feels half-baked. The influencers’ motivations and actions are barely explored, and the ritual lacks the tension or mystery to make it a compelling narrative device. The transitions between segments often feel jarring and disconnected without a strong central storyline to anchor the anthology.

The candlelit storytelling game concept remains intriguing, and the better segments hint at what the anthology could have achieved with a more balanced approach. The juxtaposition of supernatural and human-driven horrors adds some thematic variety, offering glimpses of more in-depth potential.

For those who enjoy the anthology format, there is some value in seeing how different stories can fit together under a single concept. However, casual viewers may find the film’s inconsistencies and lack of cohesion frustrating. While there are moments of tension, they are too few and far between to elevate the movie beyond mediocrity.

THE 100 CANDLES GAME: THE LAST POSSESSION struggles to establish its identity in the crowded field of horror anthologies. The premise and occasional flashes of creativity suggest potential, but the uneven storytelling and reliance on genre clichés hold it back. This film could have stood out with a more polished finish and a commitment to originality. Instead, it delivers a mix of fleeting intrigue and missed opportunities, leaving viewers with the impression of a project that didn’t quite live up to its ambitions.

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[photo courtesy of 101 FILMS]

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