In a grim parallel to game shows and reality TV, a large part of what makes horror movies so much fun is how they allow us to root for our favorite characters as they try to make it out alive of terrifying predicaments. That’s why it makes sense that the genre is naturally well suited […]
In a grim parallel to game shows and reality TV, a large part of what makes horror movies so much fun is how they allow us to root for our favorite characters as they try to make it out alive of terrifying predicaments. That’s why it makes sense that the genre is naturally well suited for storylines involving deadly competitions where an ensemble of desperate victims must fight for the ultimate prize: their own lives.
And with Francis Lawrence’s long-awaited adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Long Walk (originally published as a Richard Bachmann novel) now playing in theaters, we thought that it might be fun to highlight six other deadly competitions in horror movies as a way of honoring the ill-fated teenagers embarking on this nightmarish road-trip.
For the purposes of this list, we’ll only be considering literal games and competitions where characters are forced to compete against one other, so no pseudo-trials like those in the Saw Franchise where characters are simply being given a small chance to escape a gadget-induced murder. We also won’t be including Battle Royale on this list as every genre fan should have seen Kinji Fukasaku‘s classic by now!
That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite deadly competitions if you think we missed particularly memorable one.
The premise of “if you die in the game, you die in real life” feels like it’s been around since the dawn of time, but despite what your gut may tell you, the phrase itself only dates back to 2006 when it was used to market the overly maligned horror film Stay Alive. While this trashy thriller was promoted as a video game Saw, director William Brent Bell turned the project into one of the few genuine B-movies of the 2000s.
Featuring plenty of millennial edge as well as some genuinely interesting mythology inspired by the legends surrounding Countess Elizabeth Báthory, this digital competition is a deadly as it is entertaining. Just keep in mind that I’m only recommending the unrated edition which adds 15 minutes of essential gore and story!
5. Dark Harvest (2023)
Based on Norman Partridge’s novel and directed by 30 Days of Night filmmaker David Slade, it makes sense that Dark Harvest is one of the most stylish Halloween movies in recent memory. However, it also happens to feature a particularly brutal competition, with the film depicting a small town that holds an annual event where children must hunt down a dangerous monster known as Sawtooth Jack in order to win a life-changing prize.
While Slade’s film doesn’t quite manage to capture the unique autumnal magic of the original novel (especially when it comes to the ending), it’s still a heavily atmospheric romp with an incredibly memorable antagonist and plenty of gruesome kills.
4. My Little Eye (2002)
Following a group of contestants participating in a webcast that promises to award them with a million dollars if they can remain isolated for 6 months, My Little Eye is a prescient digital thriller that extracts a surprising amount of thrills from limited resources.
While the idea of evil webcasts would later be refined in subsequent in-world-camera productions, you’ve got to give Marc Evans some credit for recognizing that the future of entertainment would rely on DIY footage of strangers showing off on the internet.
And if you like this one, don’t forget to watch the other reality-TV-based thriller from around the same time, Daniel Minahan’s Series 7: The Contenders.
3. Slashers (2001)
Of the two faux Reality TV shows on this list, Slashers is the only one that I’d actually watch if it were real. Directed by Maurice Devereaux, this low-budget romp skillfully boils down all of the fan-favorite tropes and quirks of the slasher genre into a charmingly meta experience that should have spawned a hundred sequels.
While it’s a shame that the film doesn’t take its Found-Footage-adjacent setup seriously, the memorable killers and wicked sense of humor more than make up for any blemishes. And if that’s not enough for you, I’d also suggest listening to the flick’s infernally catchy theme song!
2. Would You Rather (2016)
Jeffrey Combs elevates any genre experience, and David Guy Levy’s Would You Rather is no exception. In this psychological thrill-ride, a mysterious philanthropist (Combs) organizes a horrific game where contestants compete for money by making increasingly difficult choices, with consequences escalating until the game becomes a matter of life of death.
And while critics at the time complained that the flick delved into torture porn territory with its cruel choices, I think the blood and guts are precisely what make it such a fun and schlocky ride – especially when you get to that wicked ending.
1. The Belko Experiment (2016)
Greg McLean and James Gunn are a match made in horror heaven, and that’s why I find it baffling that the duo’s battle royale thriller The Belko Experiment isn’t brough up more often in conversations about their best work. Based on a nightmare that Gunn had about office workers being forced to kill each other, the film follows an ensemble of employees who find themselves in that very situation after becoming trapped in a Colombian office building.
Featuring biting satire and plenty of gore (as well as a phenomenal cast including fan favorites like Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn and even David Dastmalchian), The Belko Experiment is a must-watch for fans of both McLean and Gunn’s unique filmographies.
