If you think of bingo, what image does it conjure up in your mind? Most likely, you’ll picture a game that has been around for decades and that has become a staple in the lives of many generations of players. It almost certainly won’t feature in most people’s minds as a setting for a horror movie. But then it is a genre that relies on delivering shocks to an audience — so prepare for another one. October 1 2021 saw the release of the movie Bingo Hell on Amazon Prime. See what they did there? It’s all about a bingo hall with a diabolical owner, and more about him shortly.

It may seem like an unusual setting for a movie, as the land-based bingo hall is a less common sight these days. More and more, people are opting for an alternative way to play online bingo at Paddy Power and other leading sites. But perhaps, as they watch the movie online, more horror fans might find themselves tempted by the games on offer. Not only are there several themed games to play based on TV shows like Deal Or No Deal and popular slots games like Rainbow Riches, but there’s also slingo. This is a combination of slots and bingo with the added elements of devils who can pop up and block the game. Not blood-curdling exactly, but devilish all the same.

Anyway, back to the movie. It’s directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero, whose previous work in the horror genre includes episodes of The Purge and a few episodes of the anthology series Into the Dark. She has also been singled out by Empire magazine as a talent to watch.

The movie is set in New Orleans and, without giving away too many spoilers, it centers on a bingo hall in a run-down part of town. At the start of the action, we learn that its owner, Mario, has sold up to a shadowy figure called Mr. Big. A local community activist called Lupita has grave suspicions about the new owner, and these are confirmed, as residents die in bizarre and grisly ways. So, it’s up to Lupita to confront Mr. Big, a feat that’s going to take every ounce of her cunning, bravery, and strength.

No-one could claim that this is a big-budget movie. But, for what it is, Bingo Hell is a pretty effective horror with a strong element of black humor running through. Looking at audience and critical reactions on Rotten Tomatoes, it scores a very respectable 63% from reviewers and a less favorable 32% from viewers. Among the standout performances is the one from Richard Brake, who plays Mr. Big. Sharp-eyed viewers may recognize him from the fourth and fifth seasons of Game of Thrones, in which he played the Night King, leader of the White Walkers.

So if you fancy some bingo-based gore and destruction, it’s eyes down and get ready to mark off the murders.