User Reviews

Max Gilton (Hayward) seemingly has it all: he lives in a huge house in a ritzy part of L.A., and he conducts illegal gambling operations from his house, which earn him millions from an upper crust clientele. Women are constantly coming and going from his mansion, which has his lawyer friend Jeff (Geoffrey Sadwith) jealous. But Max's life isn't all fancy parties and working out in his home gym. To supplement his income, he works as a hit man to his rich casino patrons. One day, he receives some photos in the mail of himself caught in the act of execution. Paranoia seizes Max, and eventually he travels to Las Vegas, where mob boss Antonio Markaze (Z'Dar) is more than willing to take advantage of the situation. Adding to that, Max has been accused of killing his wife and sister in law. The police are hot on his trail, but he maintains his innocence. What's Max going to do? The Killing Game is a City Lights production - for those who don't know, it's PM entertainment's Richard Pepin and Joseph Merhi's company in their pre-PM years. Looking back now, you can see them finding their footing. For instance, there are plenty of amateurish moments, especially in the technical department, and the movie is filled with strange-looking non-actors. But that's all part of the overall vibe, which the video look helps convey. It certainly adds to the unique feel of this movie. But it's almost as if they were learning on the job, as The Killing Game certainly gets better as it goes along. You have to wait 54 minutes until Robert Z'Dar shows up, but once he does, the movie is in high gear.

Chard "Why Is My Name CHARD" Hayward puts in a surprisingly strong performance. He could have not taken the role seriously, but it seems he did. He's a suave fellow with a light British accent. There are numerous scenes of him working out, but with no song behind it. Wardrobe-wise, he seems to have a penchant for bowties and short shorts (though not necessarily at the same time). Because of this, as well as his awesome shades and his rockin' jeep, he seems to make the ultimate 80's blackmail target. Chard carries this role rather well. Complementing him is his friend Jeff, and the guy who played him, Sadwith, as far as we know, has never been in any other movies. He definitely could have had a career as an actor. It's a real shame. He even could have played Raymond on Everybody Loves Raymond.

As far as fan favorite Robert Z'Dar (which is credited without the apostrophe), he's reasonably menacing here, and to make him more "Mafia-like", they put some gray touches in his hair and he speaks in a raspy voice. His fate in the movie is definitely watching out for. But like all mob bosses, he spends his days in a theater watching dancers rehearse. Nothing says "don't cross me" like admiring men mincing around in spandex and leggings. But the good news is, just as we thought that this movie couldn't possibly rival its fellow City Lights production, the awesome Dance Or Die (1987), it actually does! The climax of the movie is even very similar to Dance Or Die, with the action intercut with the dancing! Apparently Pepin and Merhi felt this was an amazingly winning formula, because they went with it on TWO occasions that we know of. Wow. Now that's something.

In the end, The Killing Game does have its flaws, and it takes a while to get going, but for the prehistory of PM, Robert Z'Dar, Chard, and the sheer 80's-ness, it's certainly worth a look. It won't change your life, but it's not a bad way to spend 90 minutes or so.

Our two, Merhi and Pephi this time around, have done us one better in a sufficient thriller with a couple of twists and turns. Also we have ocker, Hayward in the lead. Having not seen much of Hayward in Aussie films, he's one of those low profile, but bloody capable actors who can impress us in the few roles he undertakes. Here, is no exception, right at home with his character here. Handsome and debonair sort, Max runs an illegal casino from the confines of his palatial home (where else have we seen this) He enjoys the fruits of life, bedding gorgeous women who leave at all hours, while also doubling as a hit-man, thus bringing in a very healthy income. His latest hit is met with foul play, where his life becomes a paranoid hell, with black and whites of his hit are being sent to him. He's receiving silent phone calls, at all hours of the night, then finally he hears the voice of his blackmailer, he's been awaiting with forced patience. He makes time also for his blonde hottie, although his mind on other things during their quality time. We too have a crooked cop who interrogates the hell out of Hayward, on another matter, in flashback scenes, necessary to the running of the story. The Killing Game is not the easiest thriller to follow, but the movie does have a smart feel to it. Remember we're dealing with Merhi and Pephi (hope I got that right) The spoiler of Hayward's operation is Maniac's cop, D'zar, playing another fun killing nut, that much resembles his character in Fresh Kill. Here the gun toting blackmailer, takes imaginary shots from the scope of his rifle, at potential victims, while standing from the rooftop of his building, while underneath we have these annoying dancers, who obviously provide the front for his operation. The Killing Game has a great twist near the end, that shocks and satisfies the thriller hungry viewer, maintaining it's smarts, where in it's tragedy, the show (casino) must go on. Two scenes involve Hayward, who's good at showing a range of emotions, one rather kinky, watching two hookers get it on, before ordering them out, suggesting his anger and stress to his predictament. In another, he is killing one. Is it imaginary, or did he really put the knife in her. I leave you to mull that one over.