Dark Game

For a British film especially, the writing is subpar and lacking any subtlety. It's like it was written by a 12 year old. There is a scene about a third of the way through where the large group of captives are all holding guns and 'forced' to play russian roullette while their 'captors' are standing around the room without guns, goading and mocking them. This tells you everything you need to know about this film. Why they decided to take a bunch of British actors and make them fake American accents & pretend they were in Portland USA rather than Bristol (the actual filming location) is beyond me. The end just inexplicably disintegrated into nothing.

This isn't a bad film, the script is dreadful, the locations dreadful, cast dreadful, effects dreadful, but every now and then you can see the bones of something better.

The story and the twist ending seem very heavily influenced by Saw, but the movie itself is like the Saw you'd get if you ordered it on Temu or Wish.

Apart from some good lines here and there the dialogue is terrible and there is a whole sub-plot about an imprisoned tech genius serial killer that just doesn't go anywhere or serve any real purpose.

The single biggest thing holding this film back for me though is the villain, nothing about him works, he's not scary, not intelligent, there is no threat or menace when he's on screen, he's not Jigsaw, he's more 'Kiddies Safety Scissors'.

For the love of all that is holy... LEARN TO LIGHT A FREAKING SCENE! Every. Single. Scene. Is backlit with daylight coming through the windows and ZERO fill lighting. In a police station, apparently they cannot afford to pay the power bill. Not a single light is on. At night, there is the equivalent of 4 watt night light bulbs "lighting" the scene, again from behind, so that the main figures are silhouetted. There is one scene in the killer's basement where there is literally a dual fixture flood light - FLOOD light, mind you - that apparently puts out as much area light as MAYBE a single 40 watt bulb. And that is being generous. I don't know who started this ignorant, film-school-dropout trend of poor lighting, but they should be forced to participate in one of these "Russian Roulette" games.

OK... enough about the lack of lighting. The movie itself... meh. It's been done before, and in much better fashion. There is no reason for the killer or his games. There is no rhyme nor reason to the "contestants" choosing. There is no reason for the convict that is called in to help, and then once he does, he's completely forgotten. As a matter of fact, once the feds come in and take over (like they always do), towards the end, the just aren't there. No reason. No mention.

Oh, but just for checklist's sake, there is one of each... just because. No matter who you are, you WILL see yourself in this movie. As a matter of fact, I have never seen so many foreign language speakers in America in my life. I will give it that the usual suspects are not all knowing and all powerful. The casting is the only thing "current." But It is still noteworthy just for the sake of transparency.

Nah... don't even bother with this one.

Netflix practically begged me to watch this movie. It was relentless, like an overeager friend who won't stop texting you about their latest obsession. So, with expectations lower than a slug doing the limbo, I gave in.

Now, was the plot groundbreaking? Absolutely not. But then, BOOM, Ed Westwick appeared, smouldering like a human campfire and doing his best "I'm totally American" act. Did my rating get a little Westwick bump? I mean... who's to say? (Spoiler: It did.)

What I did like was the ensemble vibe. More characters, more dialogue. On the downside, the lighting crew must've called in sick, because in some scenes, I was squinting harder than someone reading the fine print on a New Year New Me 2025 gym membership. Game of Thrones Season 8 flashbacks, anyone?

Now, let's talk about the dark web subplot. Creepy as hell. My overactive brain instantly filed it under "probably happening IRL," like a mix of Taken and Hostel. And honestly? The film was disturbing without being a gore fest, which I appreciated. Sometimes implying horror is way more effective than splattering it everywhere. Let me do a little mental scarring on my own, thanks.

My golden rule: If a movie doesn't hook me in 15 minutes, I'm out. But this one passed the test. Why? The lack of slow, soul-draining silent scenes helped. So did the abundance of characters. Oh, and Ed Westwick. Did I mention Ed Westwick? Swoon.

Actually more than one game! So no pun intended! Yes if that sounds familiar ... you may have ... Saw in mind! You saw it coming anyway (the pun that is). You may be tired of all the movies trying to copy Saw - and I don't think this is able to reach the heights of it ... maybe not even some of its sequels power.

That said, the movie is more than fine .... especially the main bad guy. He is having so much fun with his role ... and it shows! Even if he covers his face - I assume there may be another movie in the works - or at least planned ... maybe prequel, maybe something or rather someone else than him taking over ... maybe him - depends on the end of the movie, doesn't it? That was rhetorical obviously.

Interesting horror with some horrifying effects ... not for the faint hearted for sure ... be wary if you are sensitive ... just saying.