DarkGame (2024)

Note: I worked on the PR campaign for this film, but this review is unpaid and reflects my honest opinion.

In Portland, a mysterious broadcast is launched on the dark web. The broadcast consists of a game show titled Russian Roulette, and is hosted by a mysterious man who wears a mask, only showing his mouth. This man is known as ‘The Presenter’ (Andrew P. Stephen). However, this is not your typical game show- it’s a sadistic, sickening game where lives are at stake. The unwilling players of this game have been kidnapped and electrocuted with a cattle prod until they submit and cooperate. The first round ends with a horrifying death, satisfying the viewers who can also sway the results with their cash.

After the film’s opening, we are introduced to a police detective named Ben (Ed Westwick). In his most recent bust, Ben and his trusted colleague Officer Cathy Burnett (Lola Wayne) successfully rescued a pair of young children. At the same time, several criminals were gunned down in the process. When Ben returns home, he is comforted by his partner, Lisa (Rose Reynolds), who is pregnant with their first child. Ben is understandably concerned about bringing a newborn into a world of crime and chaos. However, Lisa reassures him, knowing his passion for his work and commitment to keeping them both safe.

The next day, Ben is urgently contacted about a mysterious game show. He and his team begin to question whether what they are seeing is authentic. Although Ben can seek support from their cyber division, the staff in this department are still relatively inexperienced. Due to the complexity of the situation, Ben is forced to reach out to a criminal serving time in prison, Larch (Rick Yale), to gain his expertise. Meanwhile, the mysterious crew from the show has kidnapped a woman named Katia (Natalya Tsvetkova), who is to become the newest contestant in a deadly game where players share a common goal: to stay alive. The clock is ticking. Can Ben discover the location of ‘The Presenter’ and rescue the contestants before it’s too late?

DarkGame is a horror and thriller film. It shares vibes and themes similar to popular movies such as Se7en, Saw X, The Purge, and Hostel. The film was directed by Howard J. Ford, who has also worked on projects like The Ledge (2022), The Lockdown Hauntings (2021), The Dead (2010), and Escape (2023), among others.

As a story, this film is a mix of hits and misses. I loved the concept, especially the mysterious broadcasting introduced at the beginning, and I enjoyed the journey of the lead character, Ben. Ed Westwick’s performance in the film is acceptable, though not particularly exciting. He portrays a tough detective who consistently demonstrates his determination, and as the story unfolds, we learn more about his character. He has a respectful reputation and a haunting past, which serves as a significant motivation for his work. However, as the film progresses, the focus shifts from Ben to character reactions and minor obstacles, such as the difficulty Ben faces in finding someone knowledgeable enough to help him determine the source and location of the broadcast.

Interestingly, there seems to be very little police work depicted throughout the film, and a few actions taken by characters can be quite disagreeable. The challenges presented by ‘The Presenter’ are relatively weak. The games, which include Scissors Paper Rock, Dodgeball, and of course, Russian Roulette, come across as rather childish. I can understand that this could be attributed to potential budget constraints of the film. Andrew P. Stephen, who plays ‘The Presenter’, does a decent job, but his character is excessively over the top. His dialogue throughout the games was filled with puns and gags that, unfortunately, did not resonate with me. Nor did this dialogue help him come across as menacing. A fair amount of screen time is devoted to the character of Katia, who is kidnapped and forced to participate in a dark web game. Her perspective adds depth to the story, and I found Katia to be the most likable character in the movie.

Overall, DarkGame is entertaining enough to help pass the time, featuring solid and impactful reveals in its finale. The story is decent, but be prepared for some baffling and frustrating character choices, particularly since the detectives do very little given the extreme circumstances. The side characters add more depth to the narrative, while the film’s villain and the torturous games come off as childish, detracting from the overall quality. The same can be said for the score. Although the film shares vibes like Saw X and Se7en, it doesn’t offer anything particularly revolutionary in the horror and thriller genres, despite containing a few enlightening elements.

DarkGame (2024) is available on DVD & Digital from May 14th!