blessmycottonsocks
Antediluvian
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- Dec 22, 2014
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- Wessex and Mercia
On another thread, someone mentioned a Russian series called Igra Na Voizhivanye, which sounded strikingly similar to the US series from 7 or 8 years ago “Siberia”.
It struck me that these are just the latest in a vast catalogue of movies and TV series exploring a very similar theme; namely a supposed game or reality show in which killing is not only permitted, but is necessary if you want to be the winning contestant.
I did a little digging on this theme and found a 1953 novel by US author Robert Sheckley called “Seventh Victim”, featuring a legalised and televised murder game known as The Big Hunt. This was adapted into a 1957 radio series and a 1965 Italian movie (curiously renamed as La Decima Vittima/The Tenth Victim).
Is that what started the whole genre or can you find any earlier variations on the theme?
Subsequently, there have been far too many similar productions to list here (IMDB has several Top 100 Dystopian game show type lists), but a few that really stand out for me are the following:
1967: The Year of the Sex Olympics by the visionary Nigel Kneale, in which the accidental televised death of a presenter generates a massive viewer boost and persuades the TV channel to commission a dangerous reality show in which the contestants are likely to come to harm.
1975 Rollerball: the action gets bloodier and more thrilling with each round, to ensure the highest viewer ratings (avoid the dreadful remake though).
1987: The Running Man (based on the 1982 Stephen King novel). The movie is probably more famous than the novel and features Arnie at his brutal and wise-cracking best. Bunkum, but hugely entertaining.
2000: Battle Royale. One of the highest grossing Japanese movies of all time and a chilling and controversial variation on the theme, featuring high-school students. Without this, the tenth-rate, watered-down “Hunger Games” probably would never have existed.
2009: Gamer. Gerard Butler in (IMHO) his best role, as a veteran survivor in a murderous Doom-style game.
2013: Siberia. Contestants hoping to win $500,000 are helicoptered to a remote location and do everything they can to be the last one standing. The added spice here is that the backdrop is one of our favourite Fortean locations Tunguska (although actually filmed in Canada).
Any more favourites of the genre out there?
It struck me that these are just the latest in a vast catalogue of movies and TV series exploring a very similar theme; namely a supposed game or reality show in which killing is not only permitted, but is necessary if you want to be the winning contestant.
I did a little digging on this theme and found a 1953 novel by US author Robert Sheckley called “Seventh Victim”, featuring a legalised and televised murder game known as The Big Hunt. This was adapted into a 1957 radio series and a 1965 Italian movie (curiously renamed as La Decima Vittima/The Tenth Victim).
Is that what started the whole genre or can you find any earlier variations on the theme?
Subsequently, there have been far too many similar productions to list here (IMDB has several Top 100 Dystopian game show type lists), but a few that really stand out for me are the following:
1967: The Year of the Sex Olympics by the visionary Nigel Kneale, in which the accidental televised death of a presenter generates a massive viewer boost and persuades the TV channel to commission a dangerous reality show in which the contestants are likely to come to harm.
1975 Rollerball: the action gets bloodier and more thrilling with each round, to ensure the highest viewer ratings (avoid the dreadful remake though).
1987: The Running Man (based on the 1982 Stephen King novel). The movie is probably more famous than the novel and features Arnie at his brutal and wise-cracking best. Bunkum, but hugely entertaining.
2000: Battle Royale. One of the highest grossing Japanese movies of all time and a chilling and controversial variation on the theme, featuring high-school students. Without this, the tenth-rate, watered-down “Hunger Games” probably would never have existed.
2009: Gamer. Gerard Butler in (IMHO) his best role, as a veteran survivor in a murderous Doom-style game.
2013: Siberia. Contestants hoping to win $500,000 are helicoptered to a remote location and do everything they can to be the last one standing. The added spice here is that the backdrop is one of our favourite Fortean locations Tunguska (although actually filmed in Canada).
Any more favourites of the genre out there?