10 Movie Plots Only Made Possible Through One Character's Utter Stupidity

5. Ken Castle Forgets He Can Control Kable €“ Gamer

Michael C Hall Gerard Butler Gamer Just to recap the whole premise for you, Gamer concerns itself with real-life avatars being controlled by Gamers from the comfort of their home. Gerard Butler's Kable is a death-row inmate taking part in a real-life FPS, where he's controlled by the gifted Logan Lerman, who's kept him alive long enough for him to be within touching distance of his freedom clause €“ going 30 games unbeaten. Obviously, the film centres on the concept of control €“ main villain Michael C. Hall's Ken Castle, as creator of the technology, wants Butler stopped because a) nobody should be allowed to escape the game, and b) the genesis of the technology involves some shady acts committed by our protagonist, through Castle's control. To this end, he dispatches an unplugged Terry Crews to murder our noble hero, along with publicly shaming Lerman's character. Being unplugged is important €“ lag between gamer and avatar is a major problem in this world, so Crews' lack of delay leaves him at an advantage. Yet let me ask you this €“ why does he go to all this trouble? Castle makes it abundantly clear at the end of the film €“ through a song and dance number, no less €“ that he can control anyone in the Slayer game, so if he really wanted to off Kable in double-quick time, he should've just feigned a lag problem on Lerman's account and watch as the protagonist helplessly bites the bullet. It would've been far cleaner, easily deniable and among all else, just plain easier to do. However, I suppose this would leave us with a Terry Crews-less film, which would be a crying shame.
Contributor
Contributor

Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.