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Robert Louis Stevenson's The Game of DeathRating:
Release Date: 28 May, 2002 Retail Price: $9.98 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Complete Cast (5 total) |
Robert Louis Stevenson's The Game of Death Reviews
Excellent Adaptation of a Literary Classic
Directed on location in Ireland by Rachel Samuels on a $2 Million budget, this movie is a work of cinematic art.
The Game of Death is a film version of Robert Louis Stevenson's short story "The Suicide Club." Stevenson's short story has an unusual, not to mention, dark premise but is a bit too short for a feature length movie. However, director Samuels expanded Stevenson's idea and took it to the limit. Jonathan Pryce is wonderfully cast as Mr. Bourne, the sinister mastermind behind a card game of death.
The Game of Death follows a British war hero, Captain Henry Joyce (David Morrissey) in 1899 London whose wife died 6 months earlier, but he cannot face living any longer without her. However, he fears taking his own life since he is a bit of a coward.
One night, at a bar, Capt. Joyce confides his dilemma to an acquaintance who then tells Joyce that he is a "ruined man." The acquaintance also tells the captain that he too is a ruined man and is a member of the Suicide Club that exists to allow its members to exit this life without the social stigma of suicide.
Upon joining the club, Capt. Joyce is informed that, "the first rule of suicide club is that you don't talk about suicide club."
The Game of Death is an inexpensive but excellent literary adaptation. This movie's chief virtues are in the technical aspects. This movie is wonderfully lit, the sound is crisp, the costume and production design nothing short of excellent. The acting in this film is superior to that in many big budget Hollywood productions. The script was especially good.
It is most highly recommended.
See for Pryce and Bettany: Modest Adaptation of Stevenson's Novella
Though Robert Louis Stevenson's name is credited, Roger Corman-produced 'The Suicide Club' is different from the original short story by the author. That doesn't mean that this film (not made-for-TV one) doesn't deserve our time. The intriguing premises of Stevenson is left intact, and the photography is surprisingly beautiful, considering the low-budget origin. And you can see Paul Bettany (credited in the third place), which is really something.
The film is about a sad and lonely man Captain Henry Joyce (David Morrissey), who, distraught after one tragic event, rather rashly joins in the secret club presided by one 'Bourne' (Jonathan Pryce). By night, the club members gather at Bourne's house, and play a deadly game by drawing a card, which determines the one who kills, and the one gets killed.
Things get complicated soon. One of the members happens to be a yonug lady named Sarah, with whom Henry eventually falls in love. Now Henry finds a new meaning in his life, but it's too late for him for once he signed a contract with Bourne, there is no turning back from the club's rules except his own demise.
[SHOT IN IRELAND] Though the original story is set in London, Iraland stands in for the location for this film, and the results are satisfactory. The film obviously lacks in money at certain points (like costumes), but Rachel Samuels handles the camera very well, not to remind us of the next-to-nothing budget. Plus, presence of villainous Jonathan Pryce with his usual gentlemanly smile adds 'class' to the entire film.
But for all its merits, the fact that the film was shot very, very fast cannot be concealed. Some parts of the film lack logical construction of story (especially the ending part, which really needs re-shooting), and if you are aware of the strict rules of real 'clubs' in England, you find it hard to believe in the incredible membership of a lady in this male-dominated culture -- and it's a suicide club, in particular.
The film offers some fun with its good, melodramatic story, but the material is raw, and the efcects are half-baked, even though with good acting from Pryce and Bettany. As is always with the case with Corman's films, 'The Suicide Club' has brilliant idea at its core, and and also decent acting (from some actors (if not all), but still remains a so-so produciton because of its underfinaced budget and awfully hasty editing.
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