The OctoGames

Granted, I haven't seen a single episode of the South Korean TV series "Squid Game", and nor will I ever do that because I have no interest in it, so I have to say that when I sat down to watch the 2022 movie "The OctoGames", I was initially thinking this was a movie by The Asylum. However, that was not the case, but that didn't mean that "The OctoGames" was a better movie for that reason.

Nay, the storyline in "The OctoGames" is clearly a rip off of the concept of the South Korean TV series, no doubt about it. But I highly doubt that the events in this 2022 movie were on a matching level of what is seen in "Squid Game". Writer Aaron Mirtes didn't exactly churn out a particularly impressive storyline here, as it was simplistic to the bone. And thus, "The OctoGames" wasn't really an entertaining movie.

The acting in the movie was wooden and rigid, dubious at best. I wasn't familiar with the actors or actresses in the movie, nor were I able to say that anyone on the cast list were putting on a noteworthy or extraordinary performance.

Visually then director Aaron Mirtes wasn't really bringing much of anything thrilling to the screen. The special effects in the movie were questionable and looked fake.

I wouldn't suggest that you waste your time, money or effort on "The OctoGames", but instead go for the original South Korean TV series that this rip off movie is cashing in on. If you do venture here to watch this movie, I guess you will be left with the burning sensation of "but why?" once the movie comes to an end.

My rating of "The OctoGames" lands on a very generous two out of ten stars.

The concept behind this film was not bad. It could have been a solid film. It was entertaining, sure. My wife watched it entirely through, and she never watches horror, so that means something.

That being the case, the characters had chance after chance to escape, to overcome their captors, to kill their tormentors, etc. They never took it. Not once.

Real humans in this situation (I will not give away the spoilers) would have tried more than once to escape, and could have likely succeeded, given the captive-to-captor ratio. At least some of them could have escaped.

One good thing is that the characters had stories, and the acting was not terrible. It was so unrealistic, however, in terms of escape, that it was a huge problem with the plot.

I suppose it's worth a watch for mild entertainment, but prepare to spot countless plot holes.

Avoid this at all cost, its gonna be 90 min you can't get back.

Why is this so bad? Let us count the ways: It's un-original: a rip off of the excellent Korean series Squid Games, which dóés have normal to high production values. One can always do a re-make, but then it has to have something extra, which sets it apart. This ... has nót that.

Because character development is always harder in a film than in a TV series, because there's less time in which to do so, it has to be done well. It is not.

While there is nothing overtly wrong with the sets they still feel cheap.

The villain, JayPox, with his bleached face and face tattoo had nothing likable whatsoever. Villains DO have to have something likable. This is a rookie mistake.

An ensemble film with 11 main roles and they're all white, bar one? Please.

The story line is very predictable, from the beginning it's clear who the last 2 contestants would be and who would win in the end. With real names like ''Ad Cock'' and ''Hard Sell", it was to be expected.

The only good thing about this was that fairly unknown actors got a shot and hopefully, had a good time.

1 oth 10.

The Melancholic Alcholic.

The acting is terrible & the plot is a complete rip off of Squid Games (in the same way Wish items are a rip off of the real thing), so you'd think this was a parody, right? So did I before I watched it. I would say Squid Games would clearly have a right to sue here but I doubt they would because, honestly, this just shows you how bad Squid Games COULD have been if the right people hadn't been working on it, so they're probably letting this film run because it is like the ugly friend - by comparison, it makes it look SO much better. Seriously, avoid this film & wasting time in your life that you'd never get back.

Poorly written. Badly acted. Cheaply made. Clearly made to cash in on the success of the Netflix show Squid Game.

Although, all the above being said, it is at least vaguely watchable. Granted, it isn't Lord of the Rings or Citizen Kane but they have at least had a stab at creating characters and have them react to each other.

So many bits of the film make no sense to me. Why the fox outfit? Why keep one living? Who was the guy at the end? Why would YouTubers and instagram addicts give up their phones so readily?

Clearly, I cannot recommend this movie. Go watch Squid Game, it was made by people with talent.