Les Monstres du Labyrinthe

"Mazes and Monsters" attempts to capitalize on the then-hot role-playing game trend with a sensationalistic, cliche-ridden script suggesting that such games inevitably lead players into madness, despair, and suicide. So, sadly, can dismal TV-movies. But this one has an added bonus: An extremely pre-Oscar Tom Hanks.

Camp-friendly fans of Hanks should not miss this film. Fresh off the comparatively Shakespearian "Bosom Buddies," Mr. Hanks tries his best to tackle the material. Unfortunately, the implausible scenes and unintentionally hilarious dialogue soon overtake him, though he soldiers on bravely. If you enjoyed Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Hercules In New York," you'll enjoy Hanks in "Mazes and Monsters." Extensive scenes set in and around the World Trade Center are especially strange in retrospect. It's a terrible film, but Hanks' immense charm--and his ample mystical-hooey dialog--are worth the price of admission, especially in this "Lord Of The Rings"-friendly era.

Mazes and Monsters was the made-for-TV special at the head of the anti-Dungeons-And-Dragons movement, spearheaded by Patricia Pulling who blamed the game for her son's suicide the same year. I know people whose parents confiscated and threw out/burned all their gear as a result of this film, which suggests such games cause loving, sensitive kids to go insane and suicidal.

For a made-for-TV, it's pretty well done, despite the fact that its premise is rather, well, inflamatory. It's wholly designed to make parents fear their kid's imagination. Still fun to watch and laugh at. Although it launched Tom Hank's movie career, I've heard he won't acknowledge having made it.

Laughable early attempt to "show the danger" that playing D&D leads one to lose all contact with reality, this film (from the book) was an obvious attempt to cash-in on the popularity of the most durable RPG ever.

Never rising above the low-level of a "Made-for" that this is, it's the sort of movie which Lance Kerwin, at the peak of his teen stardom, would have turned-down flat.

Utterly ridiculous.

I disagree that this was just a smear campaign against fantasy role playing as so many others have said. I felt it was more a story about general psychosis and loss of a loved one. It wasn't really hinted that the "game" was at fault, as the majority of players didn't suffer any ill fate. It was a drama/tragedy genre movie just with a d&d plot. This movie wouldn't tell parents to not let their kids play games as it really doesn't try to push that agenda much or make that direct connection. Nobody said anything like "the game is to blame for this" - even the news caster in the very beginning had no idea about what was going on just happened to hear the name of the game. I guess you could say the early 80's era does mean it was 100% just trying to make it anti-d&d but in actuality the movie really doesn't push it much.

So, with that out of the way, a review... Not great. A decent watch for what it is (if you're into gaming) however really nothing spectacular. There is more focus on character drama with very little about gaming. Of course Tom Hanks is an immediate pull to watch... so yea, it is what it is.

Mazes and Monsters is a role playing board game. JayJay (Chris Makepeace) is diminished by his overbearing mother. Kate (Wendy Crewson) is his friend. Daniel (David Wallace) suffers under his domineering parents. Robbie Wheeling (Tom Hanks) is starting anew at college after some problems in his past. The three friends convince the level 9 Robbie to play the game again despite his obsessive problem with it. JayJay decides to bring the game into the real world of the caverns.

The made-for-TV production is pretty weak. The most compelling part is Tom Hanks early in his career during his 'Bosom Buddies' days. It has the lesson-of-the-week element to it. I also remember thinking as a kid that it's a fascinating concept to play the game for real. Nowadays, it's called LARP. The mental disturbance is done badly but Hanks shouldn't be blamed for it. It's cheesy and probably better to let Hanks do some acting.