Robert Louis Stevenson's The Game of Death (2000)

The first rule of suicide club is that you don't talk about suicide club. Based on a Robert Louis Stevenson story called (appropriately enough) "Suicide Club," The Game of Death is set in England in 1899, a time when taking one's own life was considered beneath cowardice. Made for Roger Corman's New Concorde company, the movie has a quality look and feel not normally associated with Corman's history of low-budget productions, thanks in part to the accomplished photography of Chris Manley and a cast that includes notable actor Jonathan Pryce. David Morrissey stars as Captain Henry Joyce, a man who lost his appetite for life when his true love died six months prior. When an old friend convinces him to hit the town one night, they meet a man who's gambled away not only his family's fortune, but his family's good name as well. This gambler recognizes Henry as a fellow "ruined man," and invites him to join a suicide club where members buy into the opportunity to die without the social stigma of suicide. Pryce runs the club, which randomly assigns victims and "anonymous" killers thanks to a random draw of cards. Henry soon falls for the only female member (Catherine Siggins), who reminds him of his dead wife. This complicates his commitment to the club and to dying. If the movie doesn't quite live up to its promising set-up, well, it's still an excellent example of how good a straight-to-video movie can be. --Andy Spletzer Amazon.com

Refreshing... strangely ;)

We've all but OD'd on a steady diet of uncouth, illiterate people killing each other in trashy ways over the past 25 years, so it's delightfully refreshing to watch rich Victorians shoot, hack, roof-toss, shank & "bleed out" their well-bred peers for an hour-and-a-half -- and be ever-so polite about it all the while! ... (sarcasm alert).

David Morrissey is the lead and does a solid job, however it's among the supporting cast that we see some 'glisten and gleam'. Jonathan Pryce plays his villain with the scent of fine cigars, brandy & the flash of firelight on polished oak seemingly ever-present. Catherine Siggins handles her characters 'dark-intensity' like she was raised on nothing but and she kisses on-screen like it matters. Worthwhile indeed. July 7, 2008

Yes, to each his own, but . . .

I'm having a hard time accepting that anyone could really like this one at all.

The Game of Death is very very loosely based on Robert Louis Stevenson's short story, The Suicide Club and Other Stories (which actually has three parts-- the first being The Story of the Young Man with the Cream Tarts, on which this film is based).

If you haven't read the book, you may want to-- I liked it years ago, but it's definitely not RLS's best work. However, if you haven't seen the film, please do yourself a favor and skip it.

The premise is fascinating-- those who wish to end their lives for whatever reason may do so here. Rather than killing themselves if they are too reluctant to do so, they pay for their "murder", thereby not bringing shame upon their families (and getting a "proper" burial, too). The catch is, of course, that their 'turns' are decided by the draw of cards. And, it may be their turn to murder several times before drawing the card that permits them to get killed by another member. To me, this sounds like a twist on "Strangers on a Train (Two-Disc Special Edition)". However, it was nothing at all like that classic.

Jonathan Pryce plays the leader of this club ruling with high society iron! Once you sign the club's contract, there's no getting out of the club... alive! Obviously, for those who join this is the desired result. However, for those who change their minds and want to live well they're just out of luck (i.e., dead)!

The acting here is very good. Paul Bettany ( The Heart of Me) is just excellent. He has a small role, but was thoroughly enjoyable to watch. David Morrissey (Our Mutual Friend, Sense & Sensibility (with Miss Austen Regrets) (BBC TV 2008)) is superb as well. Acting isn't the issue here, nor the macabre subject matter. The issue is the pacing, or lack thereof.

The film just drags along; it's slow; it's boring; it's completely unbelievable. The concept of the club itself is not so outlandish so much as the budding love story that blooms between the card driven murders.

Additionally, the villain (Pryce) is completely flat and one-dimensional. In an extremely short story, this is could be excused. In a fleshed-out 2 hour movie, though, it removes so much of the dramatic tension.

Finally there is a point in the movie when someone states, "we all have our price" or "everyone has a price" or some such drivel, as if this might be the film's deep moral lesson! Silly, silly. . .

My recommendation is to save yourself the pain and frustration that I experienced and steer clear of this mess. I wish I had. I wasn't suicidal at all before the movie started but by the end of the film well, you get the picture.

April 22, 2008

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. October 26, 2005

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. August 6, 2005

Pleasant Period Piece

Rachel Samuels in her first directing project does a good job of conducting this well written script. Robert Louis Stevenson's tale is dark. Set in the late 1800s, it is a period piece that conforms to social conventions of the day where suicide was considered socially taboo. If we updated it to the 21st century, people would be joining the Suicide Club so they could cash in on life insurance. But in this story, all assets of the deceased revert to the club. The club is run by a man named Bourne, played by Jonathan Pryce. Probably Pryce's highest profile role was as the James Bond nemesis in "Tomorrow Never Dies," but he has also been in "Ronin" with Robert DeNiro, "De-Lovely" with Kevin Kline, and will soon be in "Brothers Grimm" with Heath Ledger & Matt Damon. Here, he plays the spooky master of the club who assures a painful lingering death for any who break the rules. David Morrissey who played in "Capt. Corelli's Mandolin" and "Hilary & Jackie" is cast as Henry Joyce who longs to end his life out of grief for his late wife. He is joined by the somewhat bumbling friend Capt. May played by Neil Stuke. They run into Paul Bettany's character Shaw at a tavern who tells them about the Suicide Club. Bettany is a rising star with the recent romantic comedy "Wimbledon," playing a defrocked priest in "The Reckoning" and as a bloodthirsty gangster in "Gangster No. 1." In this film, he does a great job of playing the inebriated ruined man whose fortune he squandered and who now wishes to end it all. As the gentlemen join the others at the club, Joyce is particularly drawn to the only female member of the club, Sara Wolverton, whose husband she allowed to be killed when her military father had him shipped off to certain death in war. Catherine Siggins, a relative newcomer who was in "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," does a good job as the cold and sorrowing widow who wishes to end life. While all of this scenario may sound like a depressing subject, the film is set in the elegance of the period and the story's plot churns ever onward to the entrancing conclusion. Enjoy! March 8, 2005

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