I find that even the most intelligent and well crafted movies are ultimately unbelievable, that for various reasons and neglected considerations, the actual events transpired could not be fully plausible in a real-world scenario - THAT's NOT THE POINT!
That if you take the setting, characters and suspend disbelief enough to accept the "reality of the world presented" - i.e., a school in which parents don't pull their children out when pupils get murdered, or where no attempt to impose curfews etc. and, of course, the board kids have nothing else to do with their lives than play pranks and mindgames with the small group of friends their entire lives revolve around - Then, you are ready to experience and enjoy the movie for all it's true virtues and plus points.
I really enjoyed this movie. It did have more to think about and was much more complex than the usual 'slasher' type. There was a tendency to focus on the group and neglect the larger view of the situation, but I think this helped to eluicidate the concept of how the group were 'alienated' from the rest of the school, and how the game also isolated them with their obsessions and highlighted their paranoia.
I ought to watch it again, since it's been a while now, and I'm not sure if I noticed any glaring anomalies, but maybe there were aspects that stretched the whole disbelief element too far, but I certainly didn't pick up on them first time around since I was far too engrossed on following the story as presented and I am sure as it was intended.
It was original in parts and in some ways, in its presentation of the narrative, despite drawing on many themes and concepts that are not just unoriginal but by now (to be honest, not so much in 2004) tired and cliché. Certain additions thrown in really added something unique and fresh which is always rewarding and the ending was wholly satisfying to an engrossing movie.
If only you could see what I have seen with your eyes!
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