The Prank
The Prank

Movie spotlight

The Prank

1999
Movie
94 min
Persian

An adaptation of Hero (1992), The Prank (Persian: Shoukhi) tells the story of Reza Fathali (Parviz Parastui), a petty criminal who saves the passengers of a crashed airplane; however, his friend, Ebrahim Nazabadi (Habib Rezaei) takes credit for his heroism.

Insights

IMDb3.9/10
Director: Gary S. K. LiuGenres: Comedy, Horror, Thriller

Plot Summary

A group of college students decides to pull a dangerous prank on Halloween night, targeting a reclusive local legend known for his alleged violent past. As their prank escalates and they venture into the unknown, they find themselves caught in a terrifying reality far more sinister than they could have ever imagined. The lines between their fabricated horror and genuine danger begin to blur, leading to a night of survival.

Critical Reception

The Prank (1999) received largely negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. It was often criticized for its predictable plot, underdeveloped characters, and uninspired execution of horror tropes. Despite attempting to blend comedy with horror, the film struggled to find a consistent tone and failed to deliver genuine scares or laughs.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film suffers from a weak script and unconvincing performances.

  • Attempts at humor fall flat, and the horror elements are derivative.

  • Lacks originality and fails to build suspense or engage the audience.

Google audience: Audience feedback is scarce, but available comments often point to the film's low production value and a lack of compelling narrative.

Fun Fact

Despite being released in 1999, some sources list the production or release year as early as 1997, indicating potential distribution delays or confusion around its initial availability.

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