Flatliners Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Med students kill themselves to get smarter, but instead, they just get haunted by their past mistakes, which is basically just college, but with more defibrillators.

🍿 Flatliners: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Experiment Begins

Medical student Courtney, haunted by her sister’s death, becomes obsessed with the afterlife. She convinces fellow students Jamie and Sophia to help her conduct a dangerous experiment: stopping her heart for a short period to experience death and record her brain activity. Against Sophia’s initial reservations, they proceed, using a defibrillator to induce cardiac arrest.

Enhanced Abilities and Dark Visions

After Courtney’s brief death, she exhibits heightened intelligence and skills. Inspired, Jamie and Marlo also undergo the procedure, experiencing their own near-death experiences. However, each begins to be haunted by disturbing visions and repressed memories linked to past mistakes. Ray, skeptical, remains the voice of reason, warning against the escalating risks.

Confronting the Past

As the visions intensify, the students are forced to confront their pasts. Jamie is haunted by his ex-girlfriend, Marlo by a medical error, and Sophia by an act of cyberbullying. Their enhanced abilities come at a cost, as the guilt and consequences of their actions manifest in increasingly terrifying ways.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Courtney (Elliot Page): A driven medical student haunted by past guilt, who initiates a dangerous experiment to explore the afterlife.
• Ray (Diego Luna): A grounded and ethical medical student who initially helps with the experiment but becomes increasingly concerned with its consequences.
• Marlo (Nina Dobrev): A competitive medical student with a hidden past mistake that resurfaces during the flatlining experiments.
• Jamie (James Norton): A charming medical student who participates in the experiment, leading to terrifying visions related to his past relationships.
• Sophia (Kiersey Clemons): A stressed medical student pressured by her mother, who joins the experiment and is confronted by the consequences of her past actions.
• Dr. Barry Wolfson (Kiefer Sutherland): A demanding medical professor who oversees the students and provides guidance, but is unaware of their dangerous experiments.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jamie: “It’s a great day to die!” – Said before undergoing the flatlining experiment, echoing a line from the original movie.
• Courtney: “I want to know what’s next.” – Expresses her obsession with exploring the afterlife and pushing the boundaries of life and death.
• Ray: “This isn’t science, it’s reckless.” – Highlights his moral opposition to the dangerous experiments the others are conducting.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $19,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $16,883,115
• Worldwide Gross: $45,158,254

💥 Flatliners Reviews

Personal Review

I wanted to love this movie as a fan of the original, but it just didn’t click for me. The story felt rushed, and the scares were more cheesy than chilling. The performances were fine, but I didn’t feel any real connection to the characters. There was one scene where the girl almost drowns. I didn’t like that scene. I left feeling disappointed that it didn’t live up to the original’s suspense.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of supernatural thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in medical dramas with a horror twist”
  • “Those who enjoy stories about guilt, redemption, and facing one’s past”
  • “Fans of Ellen Page, Diego Luna, or Nina Dobrev”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic medical procedures”
  • “Disturbing visions and jump scares”
  • “Thematic elements involving death, guilt, and suicide”
  • “Brief language and sexuality”
  • “Flashbacks of accidents and traumatic events”

Professional Reviews

• IMDB: “This remake lacks the depth and style of the original, relying on cheap scares instead of genuine suspense. The plot is predictable, and the characters are underdeveloped, making it difficult to connect with their struggles. While the visuals are polished, they can’t save this uninspired retread.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “It’s an okay movie but very forgettable. Ellen Page is very good and some of the supporting actors do a decent job as well. But there’s nothing really scary or groundbreaking about this movie. If you need something for a rainy day but don’t have high expectations, this will do.

Audience Reactions

The initial concept of exploring the afterlife was intriguing.: Many viewers appreciated the diverse cast and the exploration of past guilt.

I didn’t feel the suspense or scariness promised by the previews.: Most people agree that it is missing something to make it a really good horror movie.

Overall Consensus: While some viewers found the premise intriguing and the cast appealing, the consensus is that the film lacks the depth, suspense, and originality of the original, resulting in a forgettable experience.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This film is a remake of the 1990 movie of the same name, which starred Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, and Kevin Bacon.”
• “Kiefer Sutherland appears in this film, but not as his character from the original, providing a loose connection to the first movie.”
• “The film explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of past actions, with a supernatural twist.”
• “The filmmakers aimed to create a more modern and visually striking experience compared to the original.”

🖥️ How to Watch Flatliners?

Flatliners (2017) is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can find it on demand via Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, where it is available to rent or buy. Check local listings for cable providers offering the movie on demand. Availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Flatliners, you might like these similar films:

• The Lazarus Effect (2015): Explores similar themes of medical students experimenting with bringing the dead back to life and facing unexpected consequences.
• What Dreams May Come (1998): Features a visually stunning depiction of the afterlife and deals with themes of love, loss, and redemption.
• Ghost (1990): The plot revolves around the afterlife, love, and the lingering impact of unresolved issues from the past.

🛒 Flatliners Related Products

• Original Flatliners (Blu-ray): Own the Joel Schumacher classic with a cast featuring Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, and Kevin Bacon. This Blu-ray offers enhanced visual and audio quality, allowing you to relive the suspenseful original with a nostalgic touch.
• Defibrillator Model: Display model, not a functional device.
• Anatomical Brain Model: Life-size anatomical model of the human brain for educational purposes and display. Detailed and accurate representation, suitable for medical enthusiasts and collectors.
• White Noise Machine: Help block out bad memories and have a calm environment with customizable sound and volume options.

🎧 Soundtrack

Flatliners features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Wind Quintet in G Minor, Op. 56” – performed by Franz Danzi
• “Original Score” – performed by Nathan Barr

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Flatliners – Movie Review

Want to know if ‘Flatliners’ is worth your time? Chris Stuckmann breaks down everything that works (and doesn’t!) in this film. His reviews are super thorough!

Flatliners (2017) Ending Theory Explained

Confused about that ending? This video unpacks all the details and explains the possible meaning behind those final scenes. I found it really helpful in understanding the story!

Everything Wrong With Flatliners (1990) In 10 Minutes Or Less

Before you dive into the remake, check out this hilarious takedown of the original ‘Flatliners’! It’s a fun way to appreciate how far (or not!) the series has come.

✨ Rate