Movie Review: Countdown

By Ryan Grow | October 29, 2019

If you could find out exactly when you’re going to die… would you want to know? Find out your fate in Countdown, now playing. 

When a nurse downloads an app that claims to predict exactly when a person is going to die, it tells her she only has three days to live. With time ticking away and a figure haunting her, she must find a way to save her life before time runs out.

Countdown, the new anxiety-inducing horror movie, just narrowly avoids an R rating with little gore moments of pure terror. Despite having some plot holes, the film does more than just induce audiences’ gasps and squeals. Quinn (You charmer, Elizabeth Lail) has an interaction with a sleaze-ball doctor (Peter Facinelli) which allows for a small plot point on sexual harassment but isn’t a very strong plot device.

The film’s premise makes for an intriguing horror movie by examining our reliance on technology. It opens our eyes to popular smartphone app trends while also delivering plenty of good jump scares. There is some discussion amongst the characters about how much control we have over our fate and the fates of others.

And like most horror movies, there is very little character development in the film. Any and all development is used more to explain certain story choices, like why Matt (Jordan Calloway) is being haunted by a dead kid. The film has its own logical explanation about what forms the hauntings take, which gets clearer as the film progresses. 

Overall, viewers looking for a fun horror movie with plenty of jump scares will be satisfied with Countdown. There are plenty of horror movies out for the Halloween season and Countdown is an entertaining and interesting addition to the genre.

Critic Rating: 4/5 stars

What did you think of the movie? Sound off in the comments.