Deathrow Gameshow

"Deathrow Gameshow" is an effort from writer and director Mark Pirro, a director known for making independent movies on extremely small budgets. It was the first movie of his that I saw, and after seeing it I have no desire to see any of his other movies. Oh, the movie is not totally devoid of laughs - there are four or five gags that I admit made me chuckle. But the rest of the movie is pretty painful to sit through. The obvious low budget is ridiculous, giving us shabby sets and production goofs like seeing the reflection of a member of the crew. But what really bothered me more than the shabby look of the enterprise was the screenplay. The idea of the movie is one that's best used as a skit, not a full length movie. It's clear that Pirro had a problem stretching things out, which means the movie moves extremely slowly. But worst of all, almost all the attempted humor falls flat. The movie is so lame and unfunny in its sense of humor that it's no wonder Crown-International Pictures barely released the movie to theaters.

Deathrow Gameshow is a bad movie that has a funny concept. Unfortunately, the film-makers decided on using a lame script, bad actors and a cheap budget when they made this flick. Well, it was kinda funny is a trashy sort of way. I enjoyed it when I was 13 years old. Oh well, maybe somebody will pick up the concept and maybe they could do a better job. One could hope.

Recommended for it's dark humor.

B

Unable to resist a seductress taunting him with the dance of the seven "boners", another unlucky contestant succumbs by electrocution in the outrageous "Deathrow Gameshow." The movie is sort of an odd mixture of a Paul Bartel "black comedy", crossed with "Amazon Women on the Moon". Like those films the plot is merely something threaded together between tasteless commercials and some truly hilarious moments. While the acting is decidedly inferior, it only adds to the charm, because of the obvious enthusiasm involved. Definitely not bloody, definitely moments of hilarity, definite nudity that doesn't come across as merely gratuitous, "Deathrow Gameshow" is definitely worth seeing, especially for fans of "dark comedy." - MERK

Mark Pirro's "Deathrow Gameshow" of 1987 is a black comedy that is extremely cheesy in many parts, but occasionally very funny nevertheless. This movie could certainly have been a lot better, the acting is terrible, and some extremely cheesy scenes make it hard to watch at times, but the concept is funny, and it has some hilarious moments.

In the near future (the year 1991), game shows have changed. Chuck Todean (John Mc Cafferty) hosts a game show called "Live Or Die", in which convicted death row inmates have the chance to play for their lives, and for money. Candidates who fail, get executed on the air using many different methods, such as guillotines, electric chairs, and other, more bizarre devices of execution, followed by applause from the cheering studio audience. The show is, of course, more than controversial, and Chuck has made lots of enemies...

"Deathrow Gameshow" is incredibly cheesy and crappy in many aspects, and the acting is terrible, but it is without doubt fun in many parts, especially if you're a fan of dark humor. You haven't missed anything if you haven't seen it, but it is definitely funny and a good time waster. 4/10

My review was written in December 1987 after a screening at Cine 42 on Manhattan's 42nd Street.

The generic concept behind "The Running Man" is recyclec to ill effect in "Deathrow Gameshow", an exercise in vulgar humor reminiscent but inferior to 1970s drive-in comedies.

John McCafferty is well cast (he supervised casting) as Chuck Toedan, toothy, ever-smiling host of the tv game show "Live or Die", in which, a la "Running Man", condemned convicts are given a chance to get a reprieve or gifts for their families. Executions are conducted on the taped show if they lose.

Filmmaker Mark Pirro knows talk is cheap, so there's plenty of it and not enough game show segments to keep the film lively. Mostly it's Toedan's private life, dealing with unruly fans or people who hate him and the show, particularly feminist Gloria Sternvirgin (Robin Blythe) and Mafia hit man Luig Pappalardo (the height in hissable vulgarity as played by Beano). Attempts at black humor are mainly silly, the film's only successful running gag being Debra Lamb's non-stop posing as the sexy prize presenter on the show.

Production values are on the level of a home movie and the cast is instructed to overact throughout. The one-joke premise is padded endlessly with a pointless dream sequence and very slowly rolling end credits.