Toronto After Dark 2017: Our Review of ‘Game of Death

Posted in Movies, Toronto After Dark 2017 by - October 15, 2017
Toronto After Dark 2017: Our Review of ‘Game of Death

Game of Death starts with a group of teenagers indulging in illegal substance and sex. It makes these pleasures so derivatively unglamorous and uninspired. So much so that we should find ourselves lucky to have never gone to high school with them. I’m not saying that those should look good.

They find a board game that might turn people off other, better board games. Expectations are already low for how these young people will play the game. However, directors Sebastien Landry and Laurence Morais-Lagace sank lower.

The film has two actors recognizable to those who watch Canadian content. Degrassi TNG‘s Sam Earle plays Tom, a chronic masturbator that the teens invite for giggles. And Sleeping Giant‘s Nick Serino brings his wisecracking persona to this film as Kenny.

The other characters are indistinguishable from one another, however. This isn’t the fault of the actors, who are working hard despite of what the directors give them. The film also dresses them up like lazy last minute Halloween costumes.

It doesn’t help that a board game is trying to kill the characters one by one. With more sadism than the usual entries of the slasher or shoot ’em up subgenre. The film doesn’t even let them make their mark within it.

Tom gives off an increasingly psychopathic vibe as the film progresses. He figures out that the game wants them to kill others so they don’t die. This divides the group for an against him, those who play the game and one (Emilia Hellman) who doesn’t.

This could have been a film with a great message but its nihilism destroys any chance of convening that well. Besides, it decides to switch between a regular film to a Snapchat format. And it makes it look like its trying hard to be current.

  • Release Date: 10/18/2017
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While Paolo Kagaoan is not taking long walks in shrubbed areas, he occasionally watches movies and write about them. His credentials are as follows: he has a double major in English and Art History. This means that, for example, he will gush at the art direction in the Amityville house and will want to live there, which is a terrible idea because that house has ghosts. Follow him @paolokagaoan on Instagram but not while you're working.
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