Brainscan - Interesting, but flawed horror

With all the horror remakes of the 70s, 80s and now 90s and even beyond, I'm surprised that no one has come up with a more 'modern day' take on this forgotten little tech-horror film.  Edward Furlong, looking almost like John Connor from 'Terminator 2' just three years earlier, plays a loner teen who's well into his horror movies.  When he hears about a new kind of interactive CD-ROM (hey, this was the nineties - that sort of thing was very futuristic back then!) which promises the 'ultimate experience in terror,' naturally he signs up.

What follows is a series of mindbending - and murderous - events which Furlong finds himself tied up in, albeit with the 'help' of a sinister entity known as 'Trickster' who comes out of the TV to influence him.

On paper, this should have been some sort of classic.  Yet, after watching it, I can't help feeling that it's just missing that little something that could have turned an 'okay film' into a great one.  Everyone's performance is good - special kudos to the actor who plays 'Trickster' who clearly wants to turn the character into some sort of new 'horror icon' in the 'Freddy' or 'Jason' mold, but just obviously this wasn't the vehicle to do so.

The premise is nice and the special effects are decent (right up to the end where some of the worst computer-generated effects appear ever!).  Then, finally, it just kind of ends with a whimper rather than going out on a bang.

I didn't regret watching it.  It's a decent enough little tale with enough nifty touches to keep you entertained.  I just found myself thinking that it's a shame more couldn't have been done with the script/premise when it clearly had a talented cast, idea and budget behind it.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that