The survival horror genre has been around for a long time and had a huge boost in the early noughties. It is a type of movie in which the main characters are trapped in a game, where they must compete to avoid a grizzly death. Their popularity comes from the rising tension, pushing up the odds and suspense as other main characters begin to meet their demise. Below, we provide the three definitive survival game movies you must watch.
Saw
Saw was the movie that opened the door for modern survival horror. Part of its appeal was that where others had existed in a purely fantasy realm, Saw added a dose of realism to the proceedings. The main characters were all everyday people, and they were in what seemed like a fairly day-to-day location. All of this made it extremely innovative at the time.
Released in 2004, the film is a nonlinear story about two people who wake up in an old bathroom. All that is present is a body in the middle of the room, with a tape recorder, which gives them instructions on how to survive. The plot sends them on a mystery full of tasks, usually involving them inflicting pain upon themselves and the other person in an attempt to get out, a theme recurrent in subsequent Saw movies. As the narrative unfolds, they find out they are part of a plot by the mysterious Jigsaw killer.
The movie would spawn a host of copycat films, but more importantly, would indirectly inspire the trend of modern entertainment escape rooms. Games imitating movies are not uncommon, particularly in horror and science fiction. Other examples are modern crypto gambling establishments which can be found online. They let you play cutting-edge casino titles while paying with digital currency, similar to scenes in Star Wars and Bladerunner.
House on Haunted Hill
House on Haunted Hill is the original horror movie with a gameshow theme. Released in 1959, it stars horror icon Vincent Price as a millionaire mansion owner. He invites four people to a party at the house, which he is holding for his wife’s birthday. Anyone who can spend the night there wins $10,000. When his wife is found murdered, it takes on an element of whodunnit and the antics unfold.
Originally, the movie was released with an emergo technique. This is an addition in theatres that is used to enhance viewing, such as smell-o-vision. In this, the theatres had a ghost puppet that would be dropped from the roof to scare patrons. The movie has since been remade, albeit without the scary theatre addition.
The Game
Less a horror movie, and more of a mystery thriller, The Game is well worth your time regardless. It features Michael Douglas as a wealthy banker, who gets a voucher to join a mysterious game as a birthday present. The game then begins to intertwine with his real life and is all run by a shadowy organization called Consumer Recreation Services. As his life begins to fall around him, the CRS tightens the noose and destroys his reputation and company. Without giving away spoilers, the movie becomes a cautionary tale about greed and desire.
There are plenty more movies about survival games available. Check out the ones above, and if you enjoy them dig a little deeper. You may just find your new favorite movie.
