For a film completely devoid of a soul it manages to scrape through because of its unwavering faith in its own convoluted and ridiculous premise.
The games are extremely cinematic, so it is rather ironic (and not in the least frustrating) that Kurzel and Co are intent on ignoring that for the better part of the film, focusing instead on a plot inhabited by characters so ripe with pathos they're ready to explode in a sea of pantomime dramatic expressions.
And even when they try emulate the game it is often good but never brilliant due to an unnecessary kinetic camera, often losing sense of space and direction.
I appreciate the fact that they tried to be different, but that should never win over trying to be good first.