One of my all time favorites.

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Having watched last year's remake and thinking "...right so this wasn't exactly terrible (or good)", I thought to visit the 1990 original. As with most early 90s flicks that involved either Schumacher or Sutherland, I initially ventured in expecting a campy laughable thriller. What I received was something different. A group of medical students attempt to discover what lies beyond death by flatlining for several minutes before being resuscitated back to life. What they bring back with them are hallucinogenic visions of their past sins. Sounds stupid right? Blending supernatural themes with a medical thriller. Yet oddly, it kind of works. Conjuring up the concept of how the afterlife can affect you both mentally and emotionally from a near-death experience. A plot that explores thought-provoking themes and maintains ghostly chills throughout, the end result is an enjoyable flick. Now by no means am I saying this is a great film, it's not. Schumacher is an incredibly messy director and rather amateurish, his lack of panache results in a sense of mediocrity. Zooming in on a defibrillator where you can see the camera and Schumacher's hand did take me out of the chaotic scene that was presented. The editing was too jarring with several quick cuts between the five students and the illusory imagery didn't necessarily suit the dark aesthetics of reality. As ludicrous as the premise seems, the actors have such convincing performances that naturally I went along with the absurdity. Both Roberts and Bacon were emotionally investable and were the saviours compared to the other generic cast members. Sutherland was fine but offered little incentive to connect with his character, who ultimately was unlikable. A few spine tingling scenes including the gloomy subway where a super talented crawling dog traverses the floor and the father relationship depicted for Roberts' character. So whilst this is much better than the recent remake, it still has a messy quality to the finished product. Maybe that's part of the charm...

Flatliners is an incredible movie ahead of its time. To get this exact same cast in this day and age would be nearly impossible. A must see for sci-fi fans. I honestly dont think it gets any better than this if your looking for a great sci-fi/horror movie. All of the cast is exceptional and the writing is amazing. Kiefer plays the peer pressure role pretty well to say the least! An all time classic. This is sci-fi 101 on how science fiction is to be made. Anybody interested in sci-fi has to see this before they flatline.

Flatliners, while not Academy Award material, is definitely a solid sit. I went into this movie with very little idea of what to expect, and I came out of it pleasantly surprised.The movie takes an interesting idea -- What happens when we die? -- and adds a thrilling twist that surprisingly allows for some touching character arcs.The film explores topics concerning guilt and forgiveness in its many forms, and it takes turns that I hadn't anticipated going in. I was pleasantly surprised by the results. The resolution of Julia Roberts story felt personal and cathartic, and the conclusion of Kevin Bacon's arc seemed genuinely heartfelt, so that you find yourself rooting for his forgiveness, despite the reasons for his guilt.The problems that I had with this movie were in the arc resolutions for Sutherland and Baldwin... or perhaps I should say 'lack of resolution' where Baldwin is concerned. Baldwin was the only character who didn't find any genuine relief from his sins, because he never willingly admitted them. He was simply found out, which I thought was a cheap way to get him off the hook.Sutherland on the other hand, completes his arc, but only in such a way that doesn't connect with what we saw in Robert's resolution. In order to get closure, he goes under again, when we've already established that you need only confront your problems head on to resolve them. Roberts did it with her father, but Sutherland has to go under to receive his closure. This leads to an ending that fits the film in tone, but not in story, so while it's exciting, it's also unnecessary.Of course, there's also the issue of color changes whenever the characters are confronted by their demons. I think this takes away from the fear in the moment. I think the scenes would have been much more thrilling had there been no prior warning that something was about to happen.In the end, I recommend this film. I believed the characters. I believed their motivations and desires. My issues with this film were all pretty minor, and I had a great time watching it. 6/10

For centuries man has been overly curious with the after life. Is there a place for our souls to travel to? A utopia that exists for eternity? Do you re-unite with loved ones who departed before you? Are you judged by a higher being and then processed to different realms? How is one to be judged/ Bravery, Kindness, charity, good deeds bad deeds? This movie takes a different approach to the after life experience in a unique form. Cleverly written by Peter Filardi, Flatliners is definitely different and visionary. The movie opens with a Medical student , Nelson Wright (Keifer Sutherland)who gazes over the city and says, "Today is a good day to die." Nelson tries to convince four other Medical students to do a risky iatrica experiment which involves flat-lining a person for one minute to hopefully see what's beyond life itself. The cast is well known since this movie came out in 1990 with William Baldwin as Joe Hurley.Kevin Bacon as David Labraccio. Julia Roberts as Rachel Manus and finally Oliver Platt plays Randy Steckle. Since this was Nelson's brain child idea he volunteers himself to go under and have his heart go into cardiac arrest for one minute in hopes of seeing his afterlife. While being lifeless on the table Nelson is in the after world and sees a boy who he bullied named Billy Mahoney (Joshua Rudoy). Nelson gets resuscitated and lies to the group. Nelson simply said he saw something but couldn't describe it when in truth he awoke in the afterworld seeing a boy who he tanted in his childhood. Earlier in Nelson's life he teased Billy Mahoney and physically killed him by throwing a rock at him making him fall out of a tree. The others from the group followed the same procedure. Going into cardiac arrest for one minute, experience their after world, then revived. The problem now is what they inherit from the after world, as the dead meet the living in nightmares, living nightmares!Each one with a has a terrible vision. Joe went next and experienced an erotic world of sexy woman as Joe has a hidden collection of erotic videos he hides from his wife. Joe also claims to the group that his experience were hazy without specifics, another lie.Then David travels through the cardiac express to the crossover world as he finds himself on a train as he see a Black girl. Her named is Winnie Hicks (Kimberly Scott). Joe also bullied her in high school. Rachel goes next and crosses over to witness he Father committing suicide. As the procedure takes hold to resuscitate, the main power goes out as Rachel is lifeless on the table as the defibrillator is rendered useless. Rachel manages to wake up under her own power. Our story doesn't end here. It's just starting as there are drastic side effects as the world of the dead crossover to haunt our recipients. The violent scenes with Billy Mahoney and Nelson Wright are extremely gruesome. Some reach closure, others find out the truth behind the act of death. Still so many questioned UN-answered. Just love a different take on the afterlife.