Beta Test (2016)

Beta Test (2016)

The movie starts with an interview with Andrew Kincaid, CEO of Sentinel, who discusses the Second Amendment and the dangers of gun ownership in the United States. He proposes a solution by channelling violent tendencies into video games, allowing people to shoot and kill. Meanwhile, Orson Creed, chief security officer at Sentinel, watches the interview with his wife, Abbie. Andrew reveals that they have contraction views and Orson has attempted to exploit his intellectual property. 

Despite their tension, Orson assures Andrew that he will not let it happen anymore. As the couple prepares to leave, armed men break into their place and take Abbie hostage. Orson tries to use a knife in self-defense but is knocked out.

We then see a delivery guy delivering a package to a young man named Max, a skilled video game champion and beta tester for Sentinel. The package contains the latest game Max is set to test. Max receives a call from a female Sentinel tech support worker, Princess, who informs him that the game differs significantly from other open-world games as it focuses on providing an authentic gaming experience.

Back at Orson's messed-up house, armed gangsters, led by Zane, fix a small device on Orson's neck and leave with Abbie. Max starts the game, and he discovers that his in-game character is Orson himself. He explores the character's virtual home and discovers a mobile phone in the kitchen. Zane, an NPC in the game, addresses Max, revealing that the events in the game are reflected in the real world and that the real Orson is being controlled by the device on his neck. Zane briefs Orson on a series of missions, requiring him to complete each task in 90 minutes.

Max's first mission is to sneak into the National Bank and retrieve the contents of safe deposit box 1121. Max, impressed by the realistic content of a game, is unaware that it is synced to real life. He stimulates Orson outside his house and drives towards the National Bank, where breaking news about an intrusion on television reports the intrusion. Max remains unfazed as he remains solely focused on the game.

During the robbery, Orson encounters an employee and uses a button to communicate with her. She directs him to the safe deposit box 1121, which he unlocks. Max experiences a loss of signal but reconnects with the device, allowing him to continue with the mission. Inside the safe deposit box, he discovers a gun and a note instructing him to kill the robbers and take the money. Princess warns him against harming the hostage, but Max dismisses her concerns.

Max takes down the robbers one by one and successfully retrieves the bags filled with money. He then loads them into the car and flees the scene. At a safe distance, Max realizes he cannot pause the game, leaving him puzzled. He asks Princess for clarification, who offers to check on it.

As Max heads to the kitchen, he notices breaking news about the recent National Bank robbery and recognizes the same bank employee he bumped into in the game. This realization makes Max realize that the events in the game are actually happening in real life.

Max, in a panic, attempts to call the police but is told to remain seated and continue playing a game. Zane threatens to kill Princess and frame him for robbing the bank if he does not cooperate. Max learns that the money he stole has been deposited in his real account and Zane's henchmen surround his house.

For his second mission, Zane instructs him to protect a shooter at a private school. Max is reluctant to do so, but he is forced when Princess says that she doesn't want to die. He stimulates Orson to the school and incapacitates the guards. This brings tears to Max's eyes, but he is helpless.

Zane assigns him the third mission, but Max hangs up on Zane and dials his own phone number. He speaks to Orson about the situation, while Abbie, who has a disfigured face, is kept at Andrew's mansion. Andrew asks if Orson knows about their relationship, but she responds that there was nothing between them. Zane alerts Andrew about Max's action, but the CEO seems unaffected.

Meanwhile, Max navigates Orson to his home, expertly neutralizing Zane's patrolling guards, and slips inside. This daring move is instantly mirrored in the game, allowing Max to finally see himself. Noticing Orson's silence, Max pleads with Princess to unblock Orson's speech frequency, which she hesitantly does. With his voice restored, Orson warns Max that his house is bugged. Skeptical at first, Max is shown the numerous hidden cameras and listening devices that Andrew uses to monitor him. Orson goes on to reveal that he designed every security protocol for Sentinel, including the bugging system.

After debugging their devices, Max and Orson discuss the Sentinel project. Orson reveals that he created the technology known as 'Control X', which connects people to video game characters. Initially designed for surveillance, Orson realized its military potential for creating soldiers with enhanced reflexes and vision. Although he intended it to save lives, Andrew is exploiting it for personal gain.

During their conversation, Max notices a device on Orson's neck, and Orson asks him to remove it. However, Max has a different plan. He brings an unconscious henchman inside, removes the device from Orson's neck, and attaches it to the henchman, keeping this switch hidden from Andrew. With Orson now free, he prepares to confront Andrew at Sentinel and rescue his wife.

While Orson heads to Sentinel, Andrew video calls Max, threatening to harm his girlfriend if Max doesn't comply. To demonstrate his seriousness, Andrew kills one of his female employees. Terrified, Max agrees and is tasked with assassinating Caleb Angelo, who owns 51% of the world’s largest server file, compared to Andrew’s 40%. By killing Caleb, Andrew aims to seize total control.

Max reluctantly directs his in-game character to intercept Caleb's car and carries out the assassination. However, Andrew grows suspicious when Caleb fails to recognize Orson.

Meanwhile, Orson reaches Sentinel and is confronted by Zane and his henchmen. Initially seeking a peaceful resolution, Orson loses his temper due to Zane's reckless behavior. Using his veteran combat skills, Orson fights his way through the guards, defeating them despite being outnumbered. He then engages in a one-on-one battle with Zane and incapacitates him.

Orson reaches the top floor of Sentinel and finds Abbie held hostage by a guard. Andrew threatens Orson, demanding his surrender and displaying video footage of a henchman holding Max at gunpoint. During their conversation, Andrew reveals his desire to control the world like a god. When Orson questions why Andrew killed innocent school children, Andrew justifies it as a necessary casualty of war, claiming that sometimes improvement requires starting with destruction. He laments that Orson could have been his ally but chose a different path. Orson argues against Andrew's right to control people, but Andrew remains dismissive.

Meanwhile, at home, Max, despite being held at gunpoint, cleverly directs his in-game character to return home. His character breaks in and subdues the gunman before he can react. Max then gets in his car and drives towards Sentinel to assist Orson.

At Sentinel, Orson signals his wife at the right moment, prompting her to attack the guard and throw him off the roof. Orson then engages in a physical brawl with Andrew, which escalates into a sword fight. Andrew proves skillful with the sword, injuring Orson with several strikes. Before Andrew can deliver a fatal blow, Max arrives and shoots him dead.

In the final scene, Max is appointed as the new CEO of Sentinel. During an interview, he pledges to steer the company back onto the right path. Meanwhile, Orson, enjoying a vacation with his wife, watches the interview with a smile.

Full Video Recap Of 'Beta Test (2016)'

Cast Of 'Beta Test (2016)'

Manu Bennett as Creed

Larenz Tate as Max

Linden Ashby as Kincaid

Yuji Okumoto as The Surgeon

Brandy Kopp as Tech Support

Sara Coates as Abbie

Kevon Stover as Zane

Edward Michael Scott as The Professional

Edi Zanidache as The Runt

Bill Sorice as Interviewer

Stefan Hayek as Slackjaw

Adrien Gamache as Caleb Angelo

Mark Riccardi as The 2nd Professional

Angela DiMarco as Lillian Brandt

Angela Okumoto as Reporter

Anthony Phillips as School Shooter

David S. Hogan as Bank Professional 1

Lukas Seely as Bank Professional 2

MORE INFO

Release Date: July 22, 2016

Country of Origin: United States

Genres: Sci-Fi - Action - Thriller

Filming Locations: Seattle, Washington, USA

Production Company: Mirror Images LTD.

Estimates budget: $1,600,000

Runtime - 1h 28m(88 min)