If, like most films in this feature, we become part of a totalitarian society, obsessed with barbaric entertainment, we will only have ourselves to blame. Perhaps we’re almost there anyway, with recent cruel television shows that mock and crush dreams, along with events in the world driven by the power hungry media.
Are we on the cusp of bowing to corporate greed with lust for real-life bloodshed and violence, all in the pursuit of high-ratings and stacks of cash?
Just imagine: we may only be a decade or so away from a Simon Cowell-produced television hit show, where an aging Ant ‘n’ Dec proclaim that ‘Shirley from Sheffield’ needs only a bullet to her husband’s skull and she is through to the grand-final of ‘Divorce Or Death’? There she will face the might of the mother-in-law for a million; all after dispatching the husband’s three mistresses in the previous rounds! It’s my idea Simon, so back off now!
In all seriousness, the imminent release of Gary Ross’ THE HUNGER GAMES (based on the first of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of novels) features such a controversial concept. One that has been attempted in a number of movies previously, all with various degrees of success or acclaim. The dystopian setting, a bloodthirsty public, a megalomaniac puppeteer (usually with government approval), and a selfless hero to root for: It’s an idea that has entertained and outraged in equal measure over the years.
For this reason, THN has taken a look back at some of these movies and by doing so, make ourselves judge, jury and executioner. Let battle commence…The world will be watching!
THE RUNNING MAN (1987)
Where & When: Los Angeles, 2019
The Main Contestant: Ben Richards (aka The Butcher Of Bakersfield)
The Rules: Convicts forced into a televised game show in which they must defeat specialist ‘Stalkers’ to survive. Make it through the three hours running time and freedom is the prize… or is it?
Directed by Starsky himself, Paul Michael Glaser, THE RUNNING MAN is an action-thriller with a dry, dark sense of humour. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Richards is a former police officer and helicopter pilot framed for the slaughter of innocent people during a food riot. Loosely based on the short novel by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) the film was a perfect fit for Schwarzenegger’s physique and iconic one-liners. Looking back now it is still hugely enjoyable albeit cheesy-as-hell (aided further by a closing rock balled by John Parr). And let’s not forget forget Richard Dawson’s Killian, who plays the perfect game show host asshole. Even with more gaping plot holes than Michael Bay’s entire CV, it’s still a blast, although the film’s (very) dated vision must surely make it ripe for a remake very soon…
ROLLERBALL (1975)
Where & When: Global travelling sport, 2018.
The Main Contestant: Jonathan E.
The Rules: Full-contact violent sport in which armour-clad teams participate on roller skates and motor bikes. Object of the game is to score in the opposing team’s goal using a metallic magnetic ball. Causing injury or death to opposing players to aid your team to victory is also allowed…
A 70s classic in every sense of the word, and one featuring the bad-ass talents of James Caan at his best. Norman Jewison’s futuristic thriller made the idea of global corporations corrupt takeovers a major realisation. While those out on the arena are putting their lives and careers at risk, the shareholders sitting in plush corporate boxes are the ones rubbing their hands with glee. ROLLERBALL is gritty and unforgiving, but there is no denying it’s a brilliant action-thriller. As a concept it’s possibly the most realistic of all these films, and the game itself frighteningly believable. The usually dependable John McTiernan directed a woeful remake in 2000 starring Chris Klein. That film was a disaster both critically and commercially and misses the whole point of the original’s social commentary.
DEATH RACE 2000 (1975)
Where & When: North America, 2000
The Main Contestant: Frankenstein
The Rules: An annual gladiatorial coast-to-coast race across the US, in which drivers earn points for mowing down and killing pedestrians. All using their own unique powered-up vehicles…
DEATH RACE 2000 came from the ‘cheap and quick’ filmmaking school of Roger Corman and is still one of the best to come from that stable. The concept was controversial at the time and still thinking about it now, is perhaps as shocking as any in this list. The film may be corny and silly, but it’s so much fun that you can’t help but revel in its insanity. Who can forget the downright absurdity of Euthanasia Day, where doctors and nurses wheel-out patients to be mowed down by the oncoming metallic beasts. David Carradine’s Frankenstein is a mean and moody anti-hero, and a young Sylvester Stallone plays the cocky ‘Machine Gun Joe’. Again, the film was remade (with only a few of the main plot points remaining), starring Jason Statham and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The remake also spawned a straight-to-video prequel and a forthcoming sequel is planned.
GAMER (2009)
When & When: New York, the near-future.
The Main Contestant: Kable
The Rules: Video-gamers are able to control other humans in a violent first-person shooter game. The contestants in the game are death row inmates, who can achieve freedom if they win 30 matches…
CRANK writer/directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine’s usual fun, brainless action-style appeared to be the perfect fit for this Gerard Butler-led feature. The end result was a brash, loud, and uninspiring effort that wasted the likes of Butler and DEXTER star Michael C. Hall (playing the evil mastermind Ken Castle, who is behind the hit game Slayers and its futuristic hi-tech hardware). The film looks and comes across as a mess, with a simple concept that leaves you shaking your head (and covering your ears) at how pointless and confusing it becomes. A film that is aimed directly at the Xbox and Playstation generation and very few others.
THE CONDEMNED (2007)
SERIES 7: THE CONTENDERS (2001)
Where & When: Connecticut, near future.
The Main Contestant: Dawn Lagarto
The Rules: A reality show that randomly selects six people through a lottery. Each is given a gun and forced to compete in a battle to the death in a chosen city. The surviving contestant goes on to the next series, and must win three in a row, to be set free…
A low-budget dark-comic thriller that starred SILENCE OF THE LAMBS’ female victim Brook Smith as a heavily-pregnant women hoping to win her third series. Like quite a few of these films, SERIES 7: THE CONTENDERS’ was trying to convey how far society was shifting towards the absurd and shameless. The film is very effective in delivering its message, as a camera crew follow each participant, some even becoming collateral damage as the game plays out. Ultimately the premise becomes tired and flat and never reaches the heights of the first half of the film. Nevertheless, it still is a pretty decent attempt at exploring how far the world will go with its media fascination.
BATTLE ROYALE (2000)
Where & When: Unknown Island near Japan, near future.
The Main Contestant: The whole of class B
The Rules: A class full of teenagers are drugged, taken to an island and given to choice: dispatch their fellow classmates using an array of weaponry (some useful, some piss-poor), in a three-day time period, or suffer the consequences (a bomb around their necks triggered to explode if more than one survivor remains at the end of the event).
As far as these concepts go, BATTLE ROYALE is arguably the most controversial. Like THE HUNGER GAMES, it sees young teenagers forced into extreme circumstances, ensuring that they kill their competition at the behest of the government. The game was set up in an effort to bring order back to their unruly state, (unwilling to talk it over on The Jeremey Kyle Show), and is Japan’s answer to its rebellious youth, choosing a class of pupils via a lottery and have them fight to sounds of classical music. BATTLE ROYALE has kills aplenty, most are graphic and inventive but as good as the film is, there is no joy in seeing children picking themselves off (no matter how annoying some of the are). Some characters revel in the glory of the whole saga, creating confusion as to whether they would have eventually turned to violence in the real world. This adds credence in some viewers eyes, that the government may have been right to set up the BR Act. Either way, the film was a huge success in Japan and has become an international cult classic since its release, even spawning a sequel released three years later.
THE HUNGER GAMES lands in cinemas 23 March, and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson and Donald Sutherland. Its sequel CATCHING FIRE will begin shooting later this year. Read our review here.
