The Beta Test (2021)
A Hollywood agent's secret affair spirals into a dark web of deceit. Perfect for thriller fans; not for rom-com lovers.
Genres: Thriller, Horror, Comedy
Cast
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The Beta Test(2021)
Overview
An engaged Hollywood agent receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data.
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Cast
Full Cast & Crew
Jim Cummings
Jordan Hines

Virginia Newcomb
Caroline

PJ McCabe
PJ Pruitt

Wilky Lau
Raymond Lee

Olivia Grace Applegate
Hotel & Cafe Stranger

Jacqueline Doke
Jaclyn

Lya Yanne
Laura

Jessie Barr
Lauren

Bridge Stuart
Bridge

Keith Powell
Terrance

Jackie Michele Johnson
Rebecca

Malin Barr
Annie Borgli

Kevin Changaris
Johnny Paypal

Dustin Hahn
Lewis

Ammar Aldieri
Trent

Christian Hillborg
Kris Borgli

Joy Sunday
Celia

Julio Trinidad
Nican

Bryan Casserly
Dustin

Jeffrey Markle
Michael
Featured Comments/Tips
Jim Cummings is a treasure and continues his hot streak. On initial watch this didn’t hit the mark as much as his other films but still a great watch. Jim keeps his frantic nervous breakdown character in play but he attempts to tackle so many things at once it starts to stretch a bit too thin. The murder scenes kind of set up a world that feels completely separate from the main story and the Hollywood satire bits are good but also a bit much. This may change as I sit with it or give it a rewatch in the end I am always excited for new Jim Cummings.
A soon-to-be-married Hollywood agent receives a mysterious invitation to an anonymous no-strings-attached sexual encounter with a stranger. He accepts the invitation but later he becomes desperate looking for the truth and find himself in spiraling mess. I was really looking forward to this and although I feel like it bites more than it can chew, it's a lot of fun for the most parts. It's a satire of Hollywood and the internet meets erotic thriller. It starts with incredibly dark intro that hooks you immediately. That's the only part that truly screams horror to me. The rest of the film is still great but doesn't quite match the tone set in the beginning. That said, there are some good thrills throughout that makes the film an entertaining viewing. It's got right amount of comedy and absurdity combined with unsettling cinematography that makes you uneasy. About the performances, it's great all around but Cummings does an impressive job as the lead character that Nic Cage's performance in Vampire's Kiss instantly comes to mind. Worth seeking out!
Did this movie make sense? It seems like the strange thoughts of a crazy person. The main guy seems like he was trying to prove he graduated from the Jim Carey School Of Crazy People Acting with all A's.
Do people in L.A. watch movies like this and think "oh ya those seem like totally sane normal people"? Every single one of them seem to be trying to be the most annoying character ever. Even the sex scenes looked like they were choreographed by narcissists.
A world of people with no grounding in reality becomes a fertile ground for digital exploitation. 10 for the message. I don't think this is a great film or even an enjoyable one (with the exception of a few violent-but-funny moments), but the moral of the story that Caroline presents in the final scene is perfect, so I'm giving it a 7. Terrific send-up of Hollywood manic nonsense; everybody trying to out-snow everyone else, and pretend that the other person is making sense, because you must not be an insider if you call BS on the idiot spouting nonsense! I feel like the premise could have been given to a different writer, and a superb film could have been the result. Needed: more mystery, more thriller, less insanity. It seemed the production team was trying for comedy when they needed to aim for crime thriller. Nevertheless, if it weren't for the atrocious amount of bad language, this would be a film I would recommend despite the zaniness; I felt the message came through loud (and clear?…yyyeah, probably).
Like a girlfriend I had once whose skin was loose, this movie was a bit all over the place. Jim Cummings has nothing left to prove after good quirky yet powerful debut Thunder Road, but I wish he would. While he remains a talented director, his latest stories seem to have a tougher time making the leap from indie fare to genre material.
Jim Cummings is a very unique individual with a particular approach and vibe, which is on full display here again in this film. Teetering on the edge of sanity, you wonder when he will break and the pressures of his life of lies, fakery, and self-delusion become too much to bear. I felt nervous and on edge throughout, as well as uncomfortable at times due to how oddly abrasive and subtly abusive Cummings could be. The machinations that create the situation our characters are in aren't explored in a very satisfactory manner, but they're really just the catalyst for Cummings' unraveling. I would recommend this for his performance alone, despite some of the shortcomings of the plot.
Very Disappointed with this movie
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