A Noite da Crueldade

Although some people might think this was a "Die Hard" rip-off, this movie actually came out BEFORE "Die Hard".

What makes this movie an above average movie is quite simply: the direction and cinematography.

Director Stephen Hopkins (years before he directed "Predator 2", "Blown Away", and executive produced the TV series "24") creates a lot of tension from with his unique style -- which can be seen later in "Predator 2" -- but he failed to stick to this same kind of style with later films he directed -- which is very disappointing. And considering this was his first feature film (he was the 2nd Unit Director on "Highlander")-- he makes this film look like he's been directing for years!

Peter Levy's cinematography is BRILLIANT! He's still, in my opionion, one of the BEST cinematographers in the world! I'll see anything that Peter Levy is the DP on.

So, if you're in the mood for a "Die Hard"ish kind of film -- that looks good and has a lot of tension, this is the movie to see. It's a very underrated thriller that didn't get too much attention in US (it's an Australian film).

See where it all began for Aussie director Stephen Hopkins - "Dangerous Game". Australia's Psycho Cop, but without the wisecracks. You can't help but think the film's craftsmanship caught the eyes of the Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child producers for them to hand him the gig. Watching his debut feature, I can see why they did.

This gripping little homegrown suspense-thriller with a few offbeat strokes uses a very familiar set-up (Uni-students in a department store after hours being stalked by a mentally disturbed individual- a police patrolman - with an axe to grind, and no, not literally). Don't go looking for a body count, let alone slasher as its slow rhythm virtually plays out in a long-winded cat and mouse concept. What starts harmless, turns into damage control when the harassment leads to something fatal.

The premise is straightforward, and fairly slight on the exposition with an inkling of dementia from an antagonist with more than a few loose screws, but it's Hopkins' stylised direction and camerawork leaving quite the lasting impression. By the end the plot simply eroded into a canvas of see what sticks. Its use of imagery and a fruitful principal performance (an excellent Steven Gries) is where the excitement mainly lies. Visuals show creative flair in camera positioning (as if it's on a string) alongside hue lighting and slow-motion. Nothing quite like the firepower of a shotgun, and not just one, captured in slow-motion. The colouring on screen at times can be vibrant ( definitely the toy section sequence) and some tension infused set-pieces (anyone for dominoes, or rooftop stroll?) are spectacularly presented for such a minor low-budget production.

I would love to see this film get a restored bluray release in the near future, as I think it would scrub up rather well.

Slick handsome thriller about a group of teens who break into a department story for the thrill of it all, but find themselves falling victim to a deranged police officer whom the teens caused to lose his job earlier that day. While this slasher is exciting and generates much suspense (while building up characterization too), at times I felt like I was watching a Die Hard ripoff.

Rated R; Violence.

This is the story of a maniac cop who, for some reason, has it in for a young college stud and his mates. After they report him to his supervisor who in turns suspends him pending psychiatric evaluation, he finds an opportunity to psychology torture them when, on a bet, the kids hack into a department store's security and unlock the door. Only, they get locked in the store, along with the weirdo. Murder and mayhem are afoot, and the kids are running around trying to survive until morning when they may be able to escape.

'Dangerous Game' would have been a successful cat-and-mouse psycho thriller probably if it was set in a different location. The thought of psychotic cop chasing around a bunch of innocent teenagers in a department store just didn't work. Especially when he comes face-to-face with his flinching prey quite frequently and yet, does nothing serious quite often. There was no real confrontation as would be sufficient for this kind of story, and may've worked better if say, for example, the teens were loose in the neighborhood and left to fend for themselves against this weirdo (especially if that took a few days while he makes them increasingly paranoid...although granted, even that is clichéd).

What a shame, too, that it could not have been a better thriller, considering a funky cast of young Australian characters. Even a light hearted adventure despite the madness of the villain interspersed through the picture might have even made it a more satisfying picture. Instead, it started out fresh, and sure did have plenty of action sequences, but wound up verging on the ridiculous.

An exceptional performance from Marcus Graham as the crazed Jack... A movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and always guessing as to what happens next. A must see for lovers of true blue Aussie Films.