Choose or Die (2022) Movie Script
I am sick of this, Gabe.
I do fucking everything for you.
I am your goddamn mother.
-Oh really, Mom? Mom of the year.
You're fucking lucky
I didn't call the fucking police on you.
You're fucking lucky
she didn't call the police on you.
Do you wanna be on my side?
I will always be on your side, Gabe.
I'm always on your side.
You're doing a fucking great job
I look like a fucking idiot.
I look like a fucking idiot.
You screaming at me.
-All my friends are watching.
-Did you see her face?
Did you see the way she looked at me?
And your father did nothing.
Ha! He's too busy
living in the '80s.
He's He's playing with his toys.
His weird, creepy shit.
-Oh, give me a break.
Cool.
Retro Retro Retro weirdos.
Hiding in the '80s.
Who the
Who the fuck is Barry Newman anyway?
It's Gary Numan. It's Gary
It's It's Gary Numan.
He fucks his vinyl
more than you youyou
-"His tongue? Her ears?"
-Those old movies suck.
What?
"His tongue? Her ears?"
He's just a fucking loser.
He's just a fucking loser.
-Loser Loser Loser
Guys?
-Laura?
Honey?
I don't know what happened.
It's short.
I got less out of you than the others.
You're lazy.
I'm pregnant.
So you're stupid and lazy.
Don't speak to her like that.
Maybe I don't need you tonight.
Come on.
You think you're special.
You're not fucking special.
Yo, first crush was the preacher's son
First punch was Chelsea
That's my round
Got her back till kingdom come
At BAC we was the freshest, smartest
Since kindergarten
Pardon my pompous
But my circumstances
Should've had me dearly departed
We were starved for opportunity
And begging for immunity
From violence we never started
From trauma that we ain't seek
Moving units with cardiac
Varsity how we run it back
That black and teal and purple
Color my blood and my speech
I do this for myself
For my family and the four
For the West who knows me best
Since I sleeping on the floor
See, I've been watching family die
Since the tender age of eight
So I've been scraping funds together
We been tryna make a way
Come on, baby.
Oh, just look at you.
I am so fucking smart.
God, you're so beautiful.
Hey. Hey!
How is the character design coming?
-Uh, great.
-Want me to check your code?
Mmm, no. No. I am
-Okay.
-You got the nose wrong.
It is not It's not supposed to be
It's just an idea.
It's just an idea.
Oh, what is that?
-What do you mean? What, Fad Gadget?
-Come on.
Synth pioneer from the greatest decade
in pop-culture history?
You shouldn't listen to stuff like that.
It's bad for you.
It's not ba
You loved the last thing I played for you.
Run-DMC.
You think you turned me on to Run-DMC?
How's that job huntgoing?
I'm on 27 "fuck yous" and counting, so
That's why you don't drop out.
You gotta go back and graduate.
Well, hey, look, once my game's picked up,
you can come program for me, full-time.
At the House of Isaac?
-The House of Isaac?
-Yeah.
That's actually pretty good.
Nice.
Just some, like,
solders need fixing.
Nice.
This thing is
a retro collector's wet dream.
-Is 70 okay?
-They're only selling them for 90.
But I am paying for the art.
New stock?
Yeah. I mean, it's just
a load of junk really, but
Sorry. Oh
God, it's, uh Sorry about the mess.
I've seen it a lot worse.
My mom won't eat here.
She says it's not sanitary.
I mean, I don't really like eating here,
with the bugs and the overwhelming sense
of existential
Hey, you eaten? There's this karaoke place
that does breakfast.
They make you sing
before they bring out the menu.
We could do our duet--
Hey, I can try and clean this up for you.
Yeah, sure, uh, take it.
-Um
-What's this?
Uh, I don't know?
Looks like a bootleg.
With a 125 grand prize?
Cursr.
That's actually quite a good name.
Not as good as Ghoster, but
Think the prize is still good?
I don't know. I mean, there are a ton
of unclaimed prizes from retro games.
Couple of months ago,
I read about this guy.
He was the first person in 34 years
to complete Thou Art Dead.
He found a treasure chest in a dungeon
with a bank account number.
Greetings,
this is Robert Englund,
horror royalty and Hollywood nightmare.
No fucking way.
Or should that be
the other way around?
What?
If you're listening to this,
then you're either a loser
who isn't paying
Mommy and Daddy's phone bill,
or you have survived Cursr.
-That is so cool!
-What is--
-So, congratulations.
You are worthy.
-Oh my God.
-What? Who is that?
Enter your four-digit prize code
after the tone.
-"Who's that?" Fuck yeah.
-And remember, reality is cursed.
That is so cool!
Spend that money wisely, kiddos.
-Robert Englund?
Who the fuck is that?
Oh, come on.
Oh, you
Your pop-culture ignorance
is becoming unacceptable, bitch.
You know that.You know that.
I just-- I didn't just call you a bitch.
Oh God.
Could be easy money.
Yeah. Yeah. Wait, no.
Technically, that is mine.
-You know Wilkies on 37th?
-Yes, I do.
Meet me there tonight at
- 30.
-It's a date.
-It's a deal.
-Just help yourself.
I work! I work! I vacuum. I
I'm home.
record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
We're gonna
go swimming in a minute.
-Ricky--
-Will you look this time?
What are you talking about?
I always look.
You didn't look
when I did my big jump last week.
Right, let's do it again.
Three, two, one.
Love you, Mommy.
You see here,
we have to talk in the ear
and then it will record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
We're gonna
go swimming in a minute.
-Ricky--
-Will you look this time?
What are you talking about?
I always look.
You didn't look
when I did my big jump last week.
Right, let's do it again.
Three, two, one.
Love you, Mommy.
Mom.
Don't let Lance in here again.
He's not helping you.
The walls.
Huh?
The rats
they're in the walls now.
They're hungry.
I'll, uh, set another trap later.
I was thinking
we could go for a walk tomorrow.
To the park maybe?
You see here,
we have to talk in the ear
and then it will record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
We're gonna--
Fee-fi-fo, cigarillo, cigarillo
I'm shaking up with the trees
How I keep the leaf in the middle
I'm more than these hotel rentals
And dental bills adding up
I'm the Kennedys out for lunch
With a preacher, martyr the king
I'm Cardi's engagement ring
I'm America showing off
I'm Viacom, Viacom
I'm Chappelle in Pelle Pelle
And rapping like Dylan
Spell it like Dylan
Gave my body to Adam
He told me to lie for him
Yeah, I'm America at its best
Boom boom, nah-nah-nah-nah-nah
Yippee-ki, yippee-ki-yay
With the Noname
Started getting money
From writing the haiku
Yippee-ki, yippee-ki-yay
With the Noname
Everybody on me
I'm lookin' just like you
-Hey, Carmella?
-Hmm?
Ever wonder why
they have us doing this shit?
'Cause they think it's all we're good for.
I mean, this place is fucking empty.
They got us cleaning the floors
night after night.
Oh yeah, I've given it a lot of thought
over the past few months.
Pushed it around in my mind, you know?
Really considered it.
Last week, I finally settled
on what you might call a firm conclusion.
Long as they keep paying me,
I don't give a fuck.
-
You gonna order something else?
Sorry, I'd let you sit there all night,
but my asshole boss wakes up, then
Give me a minute.
Yeah, sure.
Uh, menu's right there.
Coffee.
Say "when."
-Did you--
-Not saying "when."
-I'm just gonna keep pouring.
-When. When.
I'm only messing with you.
Sorry.
Are you-- Are you all right?
I'm okay.
You do not look okay.
Hey, how'd you do that?
Do what?
To my screen. The words came up
right when you said them.
I think that maybe
we both need some sleep.
-You have to choose, Kayla.
Choose or die.
I gotta take a fucking break. Yes.
Clean up.
Stop!
Please.
I I can't.
I can't
It hurts.It hurts.
Stop!
I can't stop.
-Help her. We have to help--
-Please. Please stop.
-Fuck. Help!
I can't
-Fuck.
-What's that supposed to mean?
-It's just a question.
-She's my daughter.
-Of course.
She works very hard.
I didn't mean
to suggest anything.
My colleague spoke to Kayla
at the scene of the suicide last night.
This is a real tragedy.
My family's seen its fair share.
There used to be three of us.
It's It's okay.
This your little boy in the picture here?
That's him.
Losing a kid is the toughest.
Got my own two boys,
and I can't imagine ever--
Can I get you a drink or something?
No, I'm good.
Once Kayla's rested, I'd like to follow up
on her statement if that's okay.
This used to be a good neighborhood.
We were happy.
We were.
You okay there, bump?
You haven't called me that in years.
-Mom, something happened--
-Is it still there?
The pool.
They tore it down, remember?
-They don't work.
-They're all we can afford.
Lance can help.
You keep taking his shit,
you're gonna die. Is that what you want?
Is that what you want?
This used to be a good neighborhood.
You see here,
we have to talk in the ear
and then it will record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
There's my girl.
Saw you had a visit.
-Fuck you, Lance.
Can't have you talking about me.
Pick up some coffee, would you?
Your mom's out.
Stay the fuck away from her.
Hey, it's my responsibility
to look out for the residents.
There's no cure for what your mama's got.
-I got the medicine--
-Keep that shit out of my house.
-I know you guys been through a lot.
-You don't know anything about us.
"Dear, Miss Edwards,
thank you for your application
for the position of junior programmer."
"Now, unfortunately,
we regret to inform you" Ooh.
When you gonna learn? Nobody around here
ever amounts to nothin'.
Saw the eviction notice too.
You need money, you come to me.
Anything to help
Miss Edwards.
I don't know how many more times
I can explain to you what happened.
Yeah, I know. I know. It's just
I don't see how a video game
can kill someone.
I mean Pac-Man
doesn't go around eating people.
So what? I know what I saw.
Yeah, no, I know, and she sounds crazy.
She's not fucking crazy. She was fine.
Everything was fine,
then the game took control.
-Is that what you told the cops?
-It's what I'm telling you.
You don't believe me?
Kayla Hey Hey, I wanna believe you.
-Just tell me where it came from.
-I don't know.
I have no way of knowing.
It's house clearance.
-Just in a lot--
-What fucking use are you?
Wait.
Let me do some research.
-I'll get to the bottom of this.
-Yeah, you do that.
You're so fucking smart.
Fuck.
Kayla. Kayla! Kayla!
Mom, what's wrong?
Why aren't you sleeping?
I can I can hear them.
The rats. They're getting out.
I'll set another trap later.
-No, no, no.
They're here!They're here!
What are you talking about?
-Kayla--
-Shoo!
Level two.
You are in a tower.
Please, Kay--
Kayla, you have to help me.
I can't do this on my own.
I don't know what to do, Kayla.
I don't know what to do.
You gotta get out of there.
I can't get out. I can hear it.
Choose.
The living room or the bathroom?
Mom, you're you're in the bedroom?
Yeah, I'm in the bedroom.
Choose or die.
-Get to the living room.
-I can't. It's gonna see me.
Go quick. Hide behind the couch.
I can't. I can't move.
-I cannot move from here!
-Trust me.
Kayla, help me!
I'm gonna go and hide.
-I'm gonna go and hide!
-No! No!
It's destroying everything.
I can hear it.
There's no meat
in the living room. You're hungry.
It's trying to make me hurt you.
Bathroom or bedroom?
Choose or die.
Wait there till I tell you to run.
What? What? What?
Run where?Run where?
Bathroom. It's in the bathroom.
I want you to go right past.
-Go straight for the front door.
-No.
I need you to go right now.
-Mom, do you see it? Go! Now!
-No, I cannot. I can't.
Okay! Okay!
There's no meat
in the bathroom.
-
-Meat.
-No, no, no!
Shut the fucking door!
The bedroom door is locked.
Kayla, I don't know what to do!
I don't know what to do!
-Help me!
-Charge it? Chew it?
I can't do it, Kayla!
I can't do this!
-Choose or die.
Kayla, I love
I love you, and I am so sorry.
Go to the window.
I can't do it, Kayla!
-You have to!
Choose or die.
Kayla,
I can't hold the door!
-Oh Jesus Christ!
-Move, Mom!
-I can see it!I can see it!
Help me! Somebody help me!
The meat is so close
you can taste it.
No, no, no!
Jump.
It's too high!
I can't!
-Jump out the fucking window!
A worthy player.
Same time again tomorrow for more terror.
Kayla! What the fuck?
You are fired.
...on line 1.
-Where's Ricky?
-Mom.
Ricky.
He wants to go swimming.
Why did you say that? Did you see him?
I can I can hear them.
The rats. They're getting out.
You are in a tower.
-They're here!They're here!
Kayla, I don't know what to do!
I don't know what to do!
You have to help me!
Choose or die.
Kayla, I don't wanna die.
There's no meat
in the living room.
You're hungry.
Kayla, I can't hold the door!
Oh Jesus Christ!
Somebody help me!
-Meat.
You trashed the place, huh?
Landlord's gonna love this.
-Get out.
-I gotta report it.
-Unless
-Fuck you.
Maybe.
What are you worth?
Ten dollars? Fifteen for the hour?
You take one more step,
you'll find out what I'm worth.
Everyone in the neighborhood
used to look to your mom and be like
Well
she was really somethin'.
Anyone was gonna make it out,
it was gonna be her.
I got a 20.
I am coming.
Kayla?
-What the fuck?
-You have to believe me.
I I believe you.
I believe you. Come inside.
This is some fucked up shit.
Be sure before you get involved.
I'm sure.
I'm sure, okay?
Just get in. You're soaked.
You weren't kidding.
This is some fucked up shit.
Can we turn it on?
I tried.
But listen, I checked what time
it started itself up last night.- 00 a.m.
Same time as when I first opened it
the night before.
I think we gotta wait till then.
Look, I'm sorry about yesterday.
Okay? After you left,
I tried to find out what I could.
It was a dead end.
And there's nothing online.
Literally. Not even an honorary mention
on the forums.
The prize line number's delisted.
I wanted to see if somehow
it was much more contemporary technology,
but there's nothing in the code
that'd begin to explain
I mean, yeah,
it's just ordinary wrapper code.
Yeah,
so what's inside the wrapper?
Well, some old games have code hidden
in the analog loading sound itself.
-Sound is data.
-We could try to separate out the sound?
Yes, we should.
Yes, we should, Kayla.
Okay.
Where are you?
When it loads, we'll be ready.
You know what I mean? I feel like
we're just scratching the surface
of interactionin, like, player choices.
Even just cheat codes.
They're cool, but they're a bit standard.
You know? You get left, right, A, B.
You get to skip a level, or you power up.
It's cool, but it's just easy.
I am gonna reinvent the whole idea.
So in my game,
if you wanna cheat, it's gonna cost you.
Like, uh Like it's gonna hurt.
Am I boring you?
No.
I am. I am boring you.
No, really. It's
It's good that you're making
something new.
Something that's yours.
Those, um
Those designs you saw?
Those are just sketches by the way.
Those They don't mean anything.
I like that you made me look
like a superhero.
Well, gotta make sure
you use your powers wisely.
You're such a dick.
Whoa! Hey, what the fuck was that for?
Do not start a food fight with me.
I am a grand master.
Go. Kayla.
-Ew.
-Sto-- Did I get it in your mouth? Ah!
-Hey, hey! This is our song.
We don't have a song.
What do you mean?
We listened to this, like, four times.
-That doesn't make it our song.
God, do you like anything about me?
And that's the way it is
It's time.
Oh shit. It's time?
-Wait.
-Isaac, hurry up.
-Okay. Oh, there's something.
Uh Let me
-Wait. Hold on.
-That is fucking evil.
Oh.
I don't know what that is. What is that?
It's not like anything I've ever seen.
And, like, it's gotthis weird gap.
If it's coding language,
there should be a cursor.
-Some kind of command prompt?
-There should, but there's nothing.
-Fuck!
-There's nothing--
"Level 3."
"You are with a loyal squire."
A squire?
Have you been talking to this thing?
"Prove yourself worthy of the prize.
Isaac looks"
How is it doing that?
Ah.
Wha--
It's It's almost putting the words
on the screen before I say
them.
-Okay.
Uh
Well, maybe these symbols
help it interact with reality.
Bad idea.
-"Help? No help?"
-Isaac, be careful.
-It's gonna try hurting you.
-My help?
-We shouldn't play.
-Choose or die?
-Bad idea.
-Gotta choose.
-No, we shouldn't. No, stop. Stop!
-Hey! Oh God!
-What do I do?
Make it stop!
What the fuck was that?
You okay?
Get up. All right.
Oh fuck.
That is some fucked up shit.
I mean, how How is that even possible?
Blue or red?
Never pick red.
Trust me.
It's locked.
Die.
-What the fuck?
-Well, red's not so bad.
Anything?
It's quiet.
Red's not so bad.
Red's not so bad.
Red's not so bad.
I wanna go swimming.
Kayla. Wait. Wait.
-Kayla.
-I wanna go swimming now.
-Ricky, stop.
-Wait. Kayla.
Ricky!
-Ricky!
-Let's go.
-Let's go.
-Wait.
-Let's go.
-Stop.
-Let's go!
-Wait!
-Kayla. Wait.
-Let's go!
The fuck is this place?
It's where my brother drowned.
I wanna go swimming.
-Ricky.
-No. Kayla, Kayla, remember.
It's not real. It knows you.
Don't Don't let it play you.
Stop! Ricky!
-Shit.
-Ricky!
-Kayla!
Kayla, Kayla, Kayla. Can you hear me?
Fuck! Fuck!
Come on.
Okay, I'm coming in.
I'm coming in.
Ricky?
Will you look this time?
Where are you?
Fuck.
I can't see shit.
Kayla?
Kayla!
Fuck.
Kayla, say something!
Kayla!
Ricky?
Will you look?
Ricky?
-Isaac.
-Is that you?
-Look at me, Kayla.
Ricky?
Oh fuck!
What are you talking about?
You have to talk in the ear, and then
it will record our voices, okay? Ready?
-You're not looking.
-You're gonna go swimming in a minute.
Will you look this time?
-Look!
Kayla.
Help! Help!
-Isaac?
Isaac?
Isaac.
-No.
No.
-Please--
Fuck.
Hey.
Whispered something in your ear
You all right?
It was a perverted thing to say
That wasn't your brother back there,
you know that.
But I said it anyway
That's why I chose you.
Made you smile and look away
He loved the water.
Mom was always working,
so I used to take him swimming.
Well, I say swimming, but he just liked
to splash and play and jump around.
And the one time I looked away
I don't know why.
It was just for a few seconds.
And when I looked back, he was
That was it. He was lying face down.
That doesn't make it your fault.
Nobody's ever said it was,
but that doesn't change how I feel.
Nothing's gonna take you from my side
And this thing
it knew that.
It made me do it with my own hands.
It wanted to make me suffer.
Someday you gotta forgive yourself.
Always ends in a hazy
How much do you know about zines?
The whole '80s cult thing.
And no, I promise it's not
one of my obscure retro fetishes. Look.
So kids used to play these games
with a dial-up.
Spend a dollar for the first minute,
45 cents for every minute after.
And you choose one or two,
and they could play for hours,
until their parents got, like,
a $500 phone bill.
Then they had to get creative.
And back then, everything was analog,
like, phone routing, sound
And once they figured out
what the tones meant,
they could hack into the phone lines,
play for free.
And once you're in the phone lines,
then you'd find out anything.
So
we could try the same hack?
Track the prize line number
using the dial tones?
-I'm already there.
Upstate.
We got ten hours till the next level.
Better get going.
You're doing this 'cause you wanna help me
or you wanna get with me?
Both.
Oh, one more thing.
My car, my music.
-Oh, don't make me listen to your shit.
-No, you love my shit.
Isaac, come on.
Watch where you're going.
-Who taught you to drive?
-I taught myself mostly.
-Watch out.Watch out.
Slow the fuck down.
-How long till the next level starts?
-About six hours.
Guess we're going in?
You all right?
We gotta find something to bust this open.
That works too.
What now?
Where is that?
It's coming from there.
Greetings.
This is Robert Englund,
horror royalty and Hollywood nightmare.
Or should that be the other way around?
If you're listening to this,
then you're either a loser
who isn't paying
Mommy and Daddy's phone bill,
or you have survived Cursr.
So, congratulations.
You are worthy.
Enter your four-digit prize code
after the tone.
And remember, reality is cursed.
-Spend that money wise--
Guess we can forget that prize.
There's gotta be something.
There's gotta be.
Hey, hey.
Power cables.
They gotta go somewhere, right?
It goes in here.
Oh shit.
Oh.
Why leave it like this?
They made the game here.
Sorry.
"Cursr Beta 1."
You promised me food, man.
And we go back,
March 12th, 1984 at- 20 p.m.
This is the first Cursr beta test.
Since we first discovered the curse,
we've been unable to identify its origins
or translate its exact meaning,
but we know it has unusual properties.
Its symbols seem to affect reality.
Each Each of them
Each of them means something.
Fire
water
and blood.
Their power
has lain dormant for centuries,
but the myth suggests
whenever they've been used
against a a person or persons,
they, well, they suffer.
Oh fuck.
Pain, fear, trauma
And the more the cursed suffer,
the more the curser benefits.
We've converted the original symbols
into 8-bit equivalents,
contained them within
a simple horror game experience,
Choose or Die.
-Choose--
-What the fuck does that mean?
Someo Someone's been doing this to me?
I will start the test now.
I am the curser.
As I cause suffering
-I will reap the rewards.
The test has started.
Cursr. Yeah,
real fucking original, man.
Okay
"You've been waiting for hours."
"They promised you food, but where is it?"
"Eat the computer?"
"Eat your arm?"
What is this, man?
Just choose one.
-This is bullshit.
-You You want your money? Hmm?
Choose.
Hey, when this is over, when I get
my money, I'm gonna mess you up.
Arm.
Hey.
Hey.
Watch.
Keep shooting. Get it all.
It works.It works.
It's incredible!
That can't be real.
Sometimes
-Sometimes, a curse can be a gift.
This bit guy is fucking insane.
I mean, we gotta tell them.
We gotta tell the police.
-Or--
-See those?
The symbol's the command prompt. Isn't it?
It's the command prompt.
It's what we were missing.
We gotta get out.
We'll take it back to mine.
-The fuck?
-What is that, Kayla?
What's going on?
It's too soon. Too fucking soon!
Level four. You're in 1984.
We gotta go. Kayla, we gotta go.
I'm gonna reinvent the whole idea.
In my game, if you wanna cheat
How's he doing that?
it's gonna cost you.
-It knows we cheated.
-Isaac, no.
-Oh my, it's gonna hurt.
-What the fuck?
-What's happening?
Rewind or fast-forward?
Isaac?
Rewind or fast-forward?
Help, Kayla.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
-Choose or die.
Rewind or fast-forward?
Rewind or fast-forward?
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
-Do it.
-Choose or die.
Choose--
Sorry. I'm sorry.I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
-Level four complete.
You're okay.
What did we What did we win?
Don't speak.
-I--
-It's okay. It's okay.
I
I totally turned you on
to... Run-DMC.
You're so fucking smart.
You're okay.
-Isaac
Isaac.
Now beat the boss.
Nothing's gonna take you from my side
-Mom?
-Hey.
Where the fuck are you?
-Why do you have her phone?
-She's resting.
It's been decided. When she's better,
she's coming home with me.
I'm gonna take care
of everything she needs.
Let me speak to her.
We're gonna play happy families.
Okay, you motherfucker.
It's cold outside
And the paint's
Peeling off of my walls
There's a man outside
In a long coat, gray hat
Now the light fades out
Now the light fades out.
And I'm wondering
What I'm doing in a room like this
And I'm wondering
what I'm doing in a room like this.
There's a knock on the door
There's a knock on the door.
And just for a second
I thought I remembered you
Just for a second
I thought I remembered you.
Amen.
Who are you?
A player.
Won't you sit down?
How did you find us?
It sent me here.
Why would it do that?
You tell me.
You still playing?
Not exactly.
I collect things, you know.
From from when I was your age.
You probably don't know what they are.
I mean, everything's
in the cloud for you kids.
So I, uh I picked up the game
in a clearance site.
I thought it'd pass
a couple of minutes, but
-But I think I woke it up.
And then
after two levels,
it promised to leave us alone
if I made copies.
My friend is dead.
I, uh
I really am devastated.
Fuck you.
If it sent you here,
it can't be for anything good.
-You bastard!
-You let her go.
-It's okay son.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
Now, everybody--
Everybody just sit down.
You know what I think?
I think you might be
what it was looking for.
"Final level."
"Boss battle."
It thinks I'm the final level boss
and you're the hero?
Oh, that's that's not fair.
Aren't guys like me
allowed to be the fucking hero anymore?
-You know, in the '80s--
-Fuck the '80s.
Fuck the '80s?
You wanna be the hero?
Prove yourself worthy.
Choose or die.
What the fuck?
Don't shoot her, shoot me!
You fucking idiot! Shoot me, not her!
No. No.
Laura, no!
No! No!
Do it.
Again.
-Let go, you fucking bitch.
Fuck you!
You're gonna fucking pay for this.
Fu--
-Fuck.
-No, Gabe!
No, Gabe, no, no!
Yeah. Yeah.
I'm the fucking hero!
You were never here.
Thank you.
It's the least I can do.
You saved my life.
Are you gonna be okay?
We'll survive.
What is that?
It's the real prize.
Since we first discovered
the curse,
we've been unable to identify its origins
or translate its exact meaning,
but we know it has unusual properties.
Its symbols seem to affect reality.
Whenever they've been used
against a person, they suffer.
-Pain.
-Pain.
-Fear.
-Fear.
-Trauma.
-Trauma.
Death.
Sure you can.
The fuck?
The more
the one who's cursed suffers
the more the one
that's proved themself worthy benefits.
Recovers from sickness.
Everything wrong in their life made right.
One life sacrificed
so another can be saved.
Sometimes, the curse
can be a gift.
I like that you made me look
like a superhero.
Well, gotta make sure
you use your powers wisely.
You're such a dick.
You've suffered.
I've prospered.
Yet somehow you managed to beat my game.
Beck?
Tell me
who will suffer next?
Only people who deserve it.
Reality is cursed.
Remember, reality is the curse.
Remember, reality is cursed.
Reality is cursed.
You are in a dark tower.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
More terror.
You have survived Cursr.
You have survived.
You are worthy.
You are worthy.
I do fucking everything for you.
I am your goddamn mother.
-Oh really, Mom? Mom of the year.
You're fucking lucky
I didn't call the fucking police on you.
You're fucking lucky
she didn't call the police on you.
Do you wanna be on my side?
I will always be on your side, Gabe.
I'm always on your side.
You're doing a fucking great job
I look like a fucking idiot.
I look like a fucking idiot.
You screaming at me.
-All my friends are watching.
-Did you see her face?
Did you see the way she looked at me?
And your father did nothing.
Ha! He's too busy
living in the '80s.
He's He's playing with his toys.
His weird, creepy shit.
-Oh, give me a break.
Cool.
Retro Retro Retro weirdos.
Hiding in the '80s.
Who the
Who the fuck is Barry Newman anyway?
It's Gary Numan. It's Gary
It's It's Gary Numan.
He fucks his vinyl
more than you youyou
-"His tongue? Her ears?"
-Those old movies suck.
What?
"His tongue? Her ears?"
He's just a fucking loser.
He's just a fucking loser.
-Loser Loser Loser
Guys?
-Laura?
Honey?
I don't know what happened.
It's short.
I got less out of you than the others.
You're lazy.
I'm pregnant.
So you're stupid and lazy.
Don't speak to her like that.
Maybe I don't need you tonight.
Come on.
You think you're special.
You're not fucking special.
Yo, first crush was the preacher's son
First punch was Chelsea
That's my round
Got her back till kingdom come
At BAC we was the freshest, smartest
Since kindergarten
Pardon my pompous
But my circumstances
Should've had me dearly departed
We were starved for opportunity
And begging for immunity
From violence we never started
From trauma that we ain't seek
Moving units with cardiac
Varsity how we run it back
That black and teal and purple
Color my blood and my speech
I do this for myself
For my family and the four
For the West who knows me best
Since I sleeping on the floor
See, I've been watching family die
Since the tender age of eight
So I've been scraping funds together
We been tryna make a way
Come on, baby.
Oh, just look at you.
I am so fucking smart.
God, you're so beautiful.
Hey. Hey!
How is the character design coming?
-Uh, great.
-Want me to check your code?
Mmm, no. No. I am
-Okay.
-You got the nose wrong.
It is not It's not supposed to be
It's just an idea.
It's just an idea.
Oh, what is that?
-What do you mean? What, Fad Gadget?
-Come on.
Synth pioneer from the greatest decade
in pop-culture history?
You shouldn't listen to stuff like that.
It's bad for you.
It's not ba
You loved the last thing I played for you.
Run-DMC.
You think you turned me on to Run-DMC?
How's that job huntgoing?
I'm on 27 "fuck yous" and counting, so
That's why you don't drop out.
You gotta go back and graduate.
Well, hey, look, once my game's picked up,
you can come program for me, full-time.
At the House of Isaac?
-The House of Isaac?
-Yeah.
That's actually pretty good.
Nice.
Just some, like,
solders need fixing.
Nice.
This thing is
a retro collector's wet dream.
-Is 70 okay?
-They're only selling them for 90.
But I am paying for the art.
New stock?
Yeah. I mean, it's just
a load of junk really, but
Sorry. Oh
God, it's, uh Sorry about the mess.
I've seen it a lot worse.
My mom won't eat here.
She says it's not sanitary.
I mean, I don't really like eating here,
with the bugs and the overwhelming sense
of existential
Hey, you eaten? There's this karaoke place
that does breakfast.
They make you sing
before they bring out the menu.
We could do our duet--
Hey, I can try and clean this up for you.
Yeah, sure, uh, take it.
-Um
-What's this?
Uh, I don't know?
Looks like a bootleg.
With a 125 grand prize?
Cursr.
That's actually quite a good name.
Not as good as Ghoster, but
Think the prize is still good?
I don't know. I mean, there are a ton
of unclaimed prizes from retro games.
Couple of months ago,
I read about this guy.
He was the first person in 34 years
to complete Thou Art Dead.
He found a treasure chest in a dungeon
with a bank account number.
Greetings,
this is Robert Englund,
horror royalty and Hollywood nightmare.
No fucking way.
Or should that be
the other way around?
What?
If you're listening to this,
then you're either a loser
who isn't paying
Mommy and Daddy's phone bill,
or you have survived Cursr.
-That is so cool!
-What is--
-So, congratulations.
You are worthy.
-Oh my God.
-What? Who is that?
Enter your four-digit prize code
after the tone.
-"Who's that?" Fuck yeah.
-And remember, reality is cursed.
That is so cool!
Spend that money wisely, kiddos.
-Robert Englund?
Who the fuck is that?
Oh, come on.
Oh, you
Your pop-culture ignorance
is becoming unacceptable, bitch.
You know that.You know that.
I just-- I didn't just call you a bitch.
Oh God.
Could be easy money.
Yeah. Yeah. Wait, no.
Technically, that is mine.
-You know Wilkies on 37th?
-Yes, I do.
Meet me there tonight at
- 30.
-It's a date.
-It's a deal.
-Just help yourself.
I work! I work! I vacuum. I
I'm home.
record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
We're gonna
go swimming in a minute.
-Ricky--
-Will you look this time?
What are you talking about?
I always look.
You didn't look
when I did my big jump last week.
Right, let's do it again.
Three, two, one.
Love you, Mommy.
You see here,
we have to talk in the ear
and then it will record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
We're gonna
go swimming in a minute.
-Ricky--
-Will you look this time?
What are you talking about?
I always look.
You didn't look
when I did my big jump last week.
Right, let's do it again.
Three, two, one.
Love you, Mommy.
Mom.
Don't let Lance in here again.
He's not helping you.
The walls.
Huh?
The rats
they're in the walls now.
They're hungry.
I'll, uh, set another trap later.
I was thinking
we could go for a walk tomorrow.
To the park maybe?
You see here,
we have to talk in the ear
and then it will record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
We're gonna--
Fee-fi-fo, cigarillo, cigarillo
I'm shaking up with the trees
How I keep the leaf in the middle
I'm more than these hotel rentals
And dental bills adding up
I'm the Kennedys out for lunch
With a preacher, martyr the king
I'm Cardi's engagement ring
I'm America showing off
I'm Viacom, Viacom
I'm Chappelle in Pelle Pelle
And rapping like Dylan
Spell it like Dylan
Gave my body to Adam
He told me to lie for him
Yeah, I'm America at its best
Boom boom, nah-nah-nah-nah-nah
Yippee-ki, yippee-ki-yay
With the Noname
Started getting money
From writing the haiku
Yippee-ki, yippee-ki-yay
With the Noname
Everybody on me
I'm lookin' just like you
-Hey, Carmella?
-Hmm?
Ever wonder why
they have us doing this shit?
'Cause they think it's all we're good for.
I mean, this place is fucking empty.
They got us cleaning the floors
night after night.
Oh yeah, I've given it a lot of thought
over the past few months.
Pushed it around in my mind, you know?
Really considered it.
Last week, I finally settled
on what you might call a firm conclusion.
Long as they keep paying me,
I don't give a fuck.
-
You gonna order something else?
Sorry, I'd let you sit there all night,
but my asshole boss wakes up, then
Give me a minute.
Yeah, sure.
Uh, menu's right there.
Coffee.
Say "when."
-Did you--
-Not saying "when."
-I'm just gonna keep pouring.
-When. When.
I'm only messing with you.
Sorry.
Are you-- Are you all right?
I'm okay.
You do not look okay.
Hey, how'd you do that?
Do what?
To my screen. The words came up
right when you said them.
I think that maybe
we both need some sleep.
-You have to choose, Kayla.
Choose or die.
I gotta take a fucking break. Yes.
Clean up.
Stop!
Please.
I I can't.
I can't
It hurts.It hurts.
Stop!
I can't stop.
-Help her. We have to help--
-Please. Please stop.
-Fuck. Help!
I can't
-Fuck.
-What's that supposed to mean?
-It's just a question.
-She's my daughter.
-Of course.
She works very hard.
I didn't mean
to suggest anything.
My colleague spoke to Kayla
at the scene of the suicide last night.
This is a real tragedy.
My family's seen its fair share.
There used to be three of us.
It's It's okay.
This your little boy in the picture here?
That's him.
Losing a kid is the toughest.
Got my own two boys,
and I can't imagine ever--
Can I get you a drink or something?
No, I'm good.
Once Kayla's rested, I'd like to follow up
on her statement if that's okay.
This used to be a good neighborhood.
We were happy.
We were.
You okay there, bump?
You haven't called me that in years.
-Mom, something happened--
-Is it still there?
The pool.
They tore it down, remember?
-They don't work.
-They're all we can afford.
Lance can help.
You keep taking his shit,
you're gonna die. Is that what you want?
Is that what you want?
This used to be a good neighborhood.
You see here,
we have to talk in the ear
and then it will record our voices, okay?
-Ready?
-I wanna go swimming.
There's my girl.
Saw you had a visit.
-Fuck you, Lance.
Can't have you talking about me.
Pick up some coffee, would you?
Your mom's out.
Stay the fuck away from her.
Hey, it's my responsibility
to look out for the residents.
There's no cure for what your mama's got.
-I got the medicine--
-Keep that shit out of my house.
-I know you guys been through a lot.
-You don't know anything about us.
"Dear, Miss Edwards,
thank you for your application
for the position of junior programmer."
"Now, unfortunately,
we regret to inform you" Ooh.
When you gonna learn? Nobody around here
ever amounts to nothin'.
Saw the eviction notice too.
You need money, you come to me.
Anything to help
Miss Edwards.
I don't know how many more times
I can explain to you what happened.
Yeah, I know. I know. It's just
I don't see how a video game
can kill someone.
I mean Pac-Man
doesn't go around eating people.
So what? I know what I saw.
Yeah, no, I know, and she sounds crazy.
She's not fucking crazy. She was fine.
Everything was fine,
then the game took control.
-Is that what you told the cops?
-It's what I'm telling you.
You don't believe me?
Kayla Hey Hey, I wanna believe you.
-Just tell me where it came from.
-I don't know.
I have no way of knowing.
It's house clearance.
-Just in a lot--
-What fucking use are you?
Wait.
Let me do some research.
-I'll get to the bottom of this.
-Yeah, you do that.
You're so fucking smart.
Fuck.
Kayla. Kayla! Kayla!
Mom, what's wrong?
Why aren't you sleeping?
I can I can hear them.
The rats. They're getting out.
I'll set another trap later.
-No, no, no.
They're here!They're here!
What are you talking about?
-Kayla--
-Shoo!
Level two.
You are in a tower.
Please, Kay--
Kayla, you have to help me.
I can't do this on my own.
I don't know what to do, Kayla.
I don't know what to do.
You gotta get out of there.
I can't get out. I can hear it.
Choose.
The living room or the bathroom?
Mom, you're you're in the bedroom?
Yeah, I'm in the bedroom.
Choose or die.
-Get to the living room.
-I can't. It's gonna see me.
Go quick. Hide behind the couch.
I can't. I can't move.
-I cannot move from here!
-Trust me.
Kayla, help me!
I'm gonna go and hide.
-I'm gonna go and hide!
-No! No!
It's destroying everything.
I can hear it.
There's no meat
in the living room. You're hungry.
It's trying to make me hurt you.
Bathroom or bedroom?
Choose or die.
Wait there till I tell you to run.
What? What? What?
Run where?Run where?
Bathroom. It's in the bathroom.
I want you to go right past.
-Go straight for the front door.
-No.
I need you to go right now.
-Mom, do you see it? Go! Now!
-No, I cannot. I can't.
Okay! Okay!
There's no meat
in the bathroom.
-
-Meat.
-No, no, no!
Shut the fucking door!
The bedroom door is locked.
Kayla, I don't know what to do!
I don't know what to do!
-Help me!
-Charge it? Chew it?
I can't do it, Kayla!
I can't do this!
-Choose or die.
Kayla, I love
I love you, and I am so sorry.
Go to the window.
I can't do it, Kayla!
-You have to!
Choose or die.
Kayla,
I can't hold the door!
-Oh Jesus Christ!
-Move, Mom!
-I can see it!I can see it!
Help me! Somebody help me!
The meat is so close
you can taste it.
No, no, no!
Jump.
It's too high!
I can't!
-Jump out the fucking window!
A worthy player.
Same time again tomorrow for more terror.
Kayla! What the fuck?
You are fired.
...on line 1.
-Where's Ricky?
-Mom.
Ricky.
He wants to go swimming.
Why did you say that? Did you see him?
I can I can hear them.
The rats. They're getting out.
You are in a tower.
-They're here!They're here!
Kayla, I don't know what to do!
I don't know what to do!
You have to help me!
Choose or die.
Kayla, I don't wanna die.
There's no meat
in the living room.
You're hungry.
Kayla, I can't hold the door!
Oh Jesus Christ!
Somebody help me!
-Meat.
You trashed the place, huh?
Landlord's gonna love this.
-Get out.
-I gotta report it.
-Unless
-Fuck you.
Maybe.
What are you worth?
Ten dollars? Fifteen for the hour?
You take one more step,
you'll find out what I'm worth.
Everyone in the neighborhood
used to look to your mom and be like
Well
she was really somethin'.
Anyone was gonna make it out,
it was gonna be her.
I got a 20.
I am coming.
Kayla?
-What the fuck?
-You have to believe me.
I I believe you.
I believe you. Come inside.
This is some fucked up shit.
Be sure before you get involved.
I'm sure.
I'm sure, okay?
Just get in. You're soaked.
You weren't kidding.
This is some fucked up shit.
Can we turn it on?
I tried.
But listen, I checked what time
it started itself up last night.- 00 a.m.
Same time as when I first opened it
the night before.
I think we gotta wait till then.
Look, I'm sorry about yesterday.
Okay? After you left,
I tried to find out what I could.
It was a dead end.
And there's nothing online.
Literally. Not even an honorary mention
on the forums.
The prize line number's delisted.
I wanted to see if somehow
it was much more contemporary technology,
but there's nothing in the code
that'd begin to explain
I mean, yeah,
it's just ordinary wrapper code.
Yeah,
so what's inside the wrapper?
Well, some old games have code hidden
in the analog loading sound itself.
-Sound is data.
-We could try to separate out the sound?
Yes, we should.
Yes, we should, Kayla.
Okay.
Where are you?
When it loads, we'll be ready.
You know what I mean? I feel like
we're just scratching the surface
of interactionin, like, player choices.
Even just cheat codes.
They're cool, but they're a bit standard.
You know? You get left, right, A, B.
You get to skip a level, or you power up.
It's cool, but it's just easy.
I am gonna reinvent the whole idea.
So in my game,
if you wanna cheat, it's gonna cost you.
Like, uh Like it's gonna hurt.
Am I boring you?
No.
I am. I am boring you.
No, really. It's
It's good that you're making
something new.
Something that's yours.
Those, um
Those designs you saw?
Those are just sketches by the way.
Those They don't mean anything.
I like that you made me look
like a superhero.
Well, gotta make sure
you use your powers wisely.
You're such a dick.
Whoa! Hey, what the fuck was that for?
Do not start a food fight with me.
I am a grand master.
Go. Kayla.
-Ew.
-Sto-- Did I get it in your mouth? Ah!
-Hey, hey! This is our song.
We don't have a song.
What do you mean?
We listened to this, like, four times.
-That doesn't make it our song.
God, do you like anything about me?
And that's the way it is
It's time.
Oh shit. It's time?
-Wait.
-Isaac, hurry up.
-Okay. Oh, there's something.
Uh Let me
-Wait. Hold on.
-That is fucking evil.
Oh.
I don't know what that is. What is that?
It's not like anything I've ever seen.
And, like, it's gotthis weird gap.
If it's coding language,
there should be a cursor.
-Some kind of command prompt?
-There should, but there's nothing.
-Fuck!
-There's nothing--
"Level 3."
"You are with a loyal squire."
A squire?
Have you been talking to this thing?
"Prove yourself worthy of the prize.
Isaac looks"
How is it doing that?
Ah.
Wha--
It's It's almost putting the words
on the screen before I say
them.
-Okay.
Uh
Well, maybe these symbols
help it interact with reality.
Bad idea.
-"Help? No help?"
-Isaac, be careful.
-It's gonna try hurting you.
-My help?
-We shouldn't play.
-Choose or die?
-Bad idea.
-Gotta choose.
-No, we shouldn't. No, stop. Stop!
-Hey! Oh God!
-What do I do?
Make it stop!
What the fuck was that?
You okay?
Get up. All right.
Oh fuck.
That is some fucked up shit.
I mean, how How is that even possible?
Blue or red?
Never pick red.
Trust me.
It's locked.
Die.
-What the fuck?
-Well, red's not so bad.
Anything?
It's quiet.
Red's not so bad.
Red's not so bad.
Red's not so bad.
I wanna go swimming.
Kayla. Wait. Wait.
-Kayla.
-I wanna go swimming now.
-Ricky, stop.
-Wait. Kayla.
Ricky!
-Ricky!
-Let's go.
-Let's go.
-Wait.
-Let's go.
-Stop.
-Let's go!
-Wait!
-Kayla. Wait.
-Let's go!
The fuck is this place?
It's where my brother drowned.
I wanna go swimming.
-Ricky.
-No. Kayla, Kayla, remember.
It's not real. It knows you.
Don't Don't let it play you.
Stop! Ricky!
-Shit.
-Ricky!
-Kayla!
Kayla, Kayla, Kayla. Can you hear me?
Fuck! Fuck!
Come on.
Okay, I'm coming in.
I'm coming in.
Ricky?
Will you look this time?
Where are you?
Fuck.
I can't see shit.
Kayla?
Kayla!
Fuck.
Kayla, say something!
Kayla!
Ricky?
Will you look?
Ricky?
-Isaac.
-Is that you?
-Look at me, Kayla.
Ricky?
Oh fuck!
What are you talking about?
You have to talk in the ear, and then
it will record our voices, okay? Ready?
-You're not looking.
-You're gonna go swimming in a minute.
Will you look this time?
-Look!
Kayla.
Help! Help!
-Isaac?
Isaac?
Isaac.
-No.
No.
-Please--
Fuck.
Hey.
Whispered something in your ear
You all right?
It was a perverted thing to say
That wasn't your brother back there,
you know that.
But I said it anyway
That's why I chose you.
Made you smile and look away
He loved the water.
Mom was always working,
so I used to take him swimming.
Well, I say swimming, but he just liked
to splash and play and jump around.
And the one time I looked away
I don't know why.
It was just for a few seconds.
And when I looked back, he was
That was it. He was lying face down.
That doesn't make it your fault.
Nobody's ever said it was,
but that doesn't change how I feel.
Nothing's gonna take you from my side
And this thing
it knew that.
It made me do it with my own hands.
It wanted to make me suffer.
Someday you gotta forgive yourself.
Always ends in a hazy
How much do you know about zines?
The whole '80s cult thing.
And no, I promise it's not
one of my obscure retro fetishes. Look.
So kids used to play these games
with a dial-up.
Spend a dollar for the first minute,
45 cents for every minute after.
And you choose one or two,
and they could play for hours,
until their parents got, like,
a $500 phone bill.
Then they had to get creative.
And back then, everything was analog,
like, phone routing, sound
And once they figured out
what the tones meant,
they could hack into the phone lines,
play for free.
And once you're in the phone lines,
then you'd find out anything.
So
we could try the same hack?
Track the prize line number
using the dial tones?
-I'm already there.
Upstate.
We got ten hours till the next level.
Better get going.
You're doing this 'cause you wanna help me
or you wanna get with me?
Both.
Oh, one more thing.
My car, my music.
-Oh, don't make me listen to your shit.
-No, you love my shit.
Isaac, come on.
Watch where you're going.
-Who taught you to drive?
-I taught myself mostly.
-Watch out.Watch out.
Slow the fuck down.
-How long till the next level starts?
-About six hours.
Guess we're going in?
You all right?
We gotta find something to bust this open.
That works too.
What now?
Where is that?
It's coming from there.
Greetings.
This is Robert Englund,
horror royalty and Hollywood nightmare.
Or should that be the other way around?
If you're listening to this,
then you're either a loser
who isn't paying
Mommy and Daddy's phone bill,
or you have survived Cursr.
So, congratulations.
You are worthy.
Enter your four-digit prize code
after the tone.
And remember, reality is cursed.
-Spend that money wise--
Guess we can forget that prize.
There's gotta be something.
There's gotta be.
Hey, hey.
Power cables.
They gotta go somewhere, right?
It goes in here.
Oh shit.
Oh.
Why leave it like this?
They made the game here.
Sorry.
"Cursr Beta 1."
You promised me food, man.
And we go back,
March 12th, 1984 at- 20 p.m.
This is the first Cursr beta test.
Since we first discovered the curse,
we've been unable to identify its origins
or translate its exact meaning,
but we know it has unusual properties.
Its symbols seem to affect reality.
Each Each of them
Each of them means something.
Fire
water
and blood.
Their power
has lain dormant for centuries,
but the myth suggests
whenever they've been used
against a a person or persons,
they, well, they suffer.
Oh fuck.
Pain, fear, trauma
And the more the cursed suffer,
the more the curser benefits.
We've converted the original symbols
into 8-bit equivalents,
contained them within
a simple horror game experience,
Choose or Die.
-Choose--
-What the fuck does that mean?
Someo Someone's been doing this to me?
I will start the test now.
I am the curser.
As I cause suffering
-I will reap the rewards.
The test has started.
Cursr. Yeah,
real fucking original, man.
Okay
"You've been waiting for hours."
"They promised you food, but where is it?"
"Eat the computer?"
"Eat your arm?"
What is this, man?
Just choose one.
-This is bullshit.
-You You want your money? Hmm?
Choose.
Hey, when this is over, when I get
my money, I'm gonna mess you up.
Arm.
Hey.
Hey.
Watch.
Keep shooting. Get it all.
It works.It works.
It's incredible!
That can't be real.
Sometimes
-Sometimes, a curse can be a gift.
This bit guy is fucking insane.
I mean, we gotta tell them.
We gotta tell the police.
-Or--
-See those?
The symbol's the command prompt. Isn't it?
It's the command prompt.
It's what we were missing.
We gotta get out.
We'll take it back to mine.
-The fuck?
-What is that, Kayla?
What's going on?
It's too soon. Too fucking soon!
Level four. You're in 1984.
We gotta go. Kayla, we gotta go.
I'm gonna reinvent the whole idea.
In my game, if you wanna cheat
How's he doing that?
it's gonna cost you.
-It knows we cheated.
-Isaac, no.
-Oh my, it's gonna hurt.
-What the fuck?
-What's happening?
Rewind or fast-forward?
Isaac?
Rewind or fast-forward?
Help, Kayla.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
-Choose or die.
Rewind or fast-forward?
Rewind or fast-forward?
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
-Do it.
-Choose or die.
Choose--
Sorry. I'm sorry.I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
-Level four complete.
You're okay.
What did we What did we win?
Don't speak.
-I--
-It's okay. It's okay.
I
I totally turned you on
to... Run-DMC.
You're so fucking smart.
You're okay.
-Isaac
Isaac.
Now beat the boss.
Nothing's gonna take you from my side
-Mom?
-Hey.
Where the fuck are you?
-Why do you have her phone?
-She's resting.
It's been decided. When she's better,
she's coming home with me.
I'm gonna take care
of everything she needs.
Let me speak to her.
We're gonna play happy families.
Okay, you motherfucker.
It's cold outside
And the paint's
Peeling off of my walls
There's a man outside
In a long coat, gray hat
Now the light fades out
Now the light fades out.
And I'm wondering
What I'm doing in a room like this
And I'm wondering
what I'm doing in a room like this.
There's a knock on the door
There's a knock on the door.
And just for a second
I thought I remembered you
Just for a second
I thought I remembered you.
Amen.
Who are you?
A player.
Won't you sit down?
How did you find us?
It sent me here.
Why would it do that?
You tell me.
You still playing?
Not exactly.
I collect things, you know.
From from when I was your age.
You probably don't know what they are.
I mean, everything's
in the cloud for you kids.
So I, uh I picked up the game
in a clearance site.
I thought it'd pass
a couple of minutes, but
-But I think I woke it up.
And then
after two levels,
it promised to leave us alone
if I made copies.
My friend is dead.
I, uh
I really am devastated.
Fuck you.
If it sent you here,
it can't be for anything good.
-You bastard!
-You let her go.
-It's okay son.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
Now, everybody--
Everybody just sit down.
You know what I think?
I think you might be
what it was looking for.
"Final level."
"Boss battle."
It thinks I'm the final level boss
and you're the hero?
Oh, that's that's not fair.
Aren't guys like me
allowed to be the fucking hero anymore?
-You know, in the '80s--
-Fuck the '80s.
Fuck the '80s?
You wanna be the hero?
Prove yourself worthy.
Choose or die.
What the fuck?
Don't shoot her, shoot me!
You fucking idiot! Shoot me, not her!
No. No.
Laura, no!
No! No!
Do it.
Again.
-Let go, you fucking bitch.
Fuck you!
You're gonna fucking pay for this.
Fu--
-Fuck.
-No, Gabe!
No, Gabe, no, no!
Yeah. Yeah.
I'm the fucking hero!
You were never here.
Thank you.
It's the least I can do.
You saved my life.
Are you gonna be okay?
We'll survive.
What is that?
It's the real prize.
Since we first discovered
the curse,
we've been unable to identify its origins
or translate its exact meaning,
but we know it has unusual properties.
Its symbols seem to affect reality.
Whenever they've been used
against a person, they suffer.
-Pain.
-Pain.
-Fear.
-Fear.
-Trauma.
-Trauma.
Death.
Sure you can.
The fuck?
The more
the one who's cursed suffers
the more the one
that's proved themself worthy benefits.
Recovers from sickness.
Everything wrong in their life made right.
One life sacrificed
so another can be saved.
Sometimes, the curse
can be a gift.
I like that you made me look
like a superhero.
Well, gotta make sure
you use your powers wisely.
You're such a dick.
You've suffered.
I've prospered.
Yet somehow you managed to beat my game.
Beck?
Tell me
who will suffer next?
Only people who deserve it.
Reality is cursed.
Remember, reality is the curse.
Remember, reality is cursed.
Reality is cursed.
You are in a dark tower.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
Choose or die.
More terror.
You have survived Cursr.
You have survived.
You are worthy.
You are worthy.