Movie Reviews: Surviving the Game
Homeless man Jack Mason (Ice-T) is approached by soup kitchen worker Walter Cole with a job offer. The job is to act as a hunting guide for rich business man Thomas Burns (Rutger Hauer) and a group of colleagues. Shortly after reaching a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest, Mason discovers that the hunting party's intended prey is something a little different than fluffy little deer.
As you can probably tell, this is yet another one of those 'hunting-men-for-sport' sort of things. It seems that these sort of films have been around ever since somebody decided to adapt short story The Most Dangerous Game. As you would expect, many of the films weren't all that good. This is one of those such films.
I have never been a fan of rappers-turned-actors and Ice-T is no exception. It isn't helped by appearing opposite... colourful characters like Gary Busey. Busey is in full-on crazy mode here and is probably the most memorable thing about the film. The fellow is supposed to be a psychiatrist or somesuch. A psychiatrist with some deep-seated psychiatric problems of his own. Unfortunately, he is killed off far to early and the film suffers for it. Don't kill off your only memorable character!
Not even the usually reliable Rutger Hauer can improve the otherwise dull film. He hardly seems to be trying this time around. If you want to see a film in which he is actually good, then stick with Blade Runner or Blind Fury.
If you absolutely must watch a 'hunting-men-for-sport' film, then you are better off watching something like Hard Target or The Running Man. Two and a half pointy hats.
Next time: Tremors
Click to view