Self Reliance – Review

Thomas Walcott (Johnson), single, no dependents, wakes up to his phone alarm, works out, heads to the office, then walks over to freeze up on his ex-girlfriend’s stoop, too chickenshit to knock. Tommy walks off disgusted with himself, heading back to his mother’s home where he currently stays.

As he huffs and shuffles down the street, a limo pulls up, with actor Andy Samberg rolling down the window, and showing him a sign of his name, asking, “is this you?” Congrats, he says, you’ve been selected. For what? He’s not sure. Inside the limo, Samberg reads an odd statement off of a prepared card, offering a strange adventure.

Tommy oddly accepts the offer, and without a whole lot of additional thought, not wanting to head back to his dull and dreary life. It is the most exciting thing to happen to Tommy in ages, and could break him out of his routine.

Samberg’s limo drops Tommy off at a rundown industrial building. As Tommy follows the path, he is given his true invitation: He has been selected to partake in a dark web reality show where the “hunters” will try to murder him. However… he has 30 days to survive. If he survives, he will receive a million in cash. Additionally, as long as he is not alone, there is no danger. He will only be killed when totally alone, such are the rules. Now, Tommy is off to find out how to spend 30 days with someone in close proximity…

Self Reliance is an odd story with a quirky delivery. Overall, it is both comedic and serious, examining an odd idea as well as mortality. The tone of the movie is mostly realistic with a few dreamlike qualities, but comes across as both intriguing and genuine. Stranger things have happened in this world, so if you want a weird and fun time with a good cast, try Self Reliance.