Peter S. Traynor’s Death Game is a film I have been hearing about for years (yes, before Eli Roth remade it as Knock, Knock in 2015). The film is a sleazy exploitation fueled romp that stars Seymour Cassel as George, a wealthy businessman who finds himself alone on his 40th birthday after his wife gets a call from her Mother that their son who is staying her on a trip is ill, and needs to be hospitalized. Soon after she leaves a thunderstorm kicks in, and 2 young women Jackson (Sondra Locke) and Donna (Colleen Camp) knock on Georges’ door. They appear to stranded and looking to get out the rain, George lets them in to use them phone, however, they soon find the hot tub, and initiate a three way with the temporarily reluctant George. The next morning the pair have not left, and have pretty much stated their intention to not leave. They begin to take over the house, and George’s life, torturing him, both psychologically and physically, and that’s just the start.
Death Game is an absolute perfect slice of sleazy, traumatic exploitation cinema. At times it gives a wink and a nod to the audience, and other times it plays everything perfectly straight. Traynor along with writers Anthony Overman and Michael Ronald Ross manage to create a perfect balancing act between camp and pure terror, and also achieving an air of suspense that will certainly keep most viewers on edge for the duration of the running time. Of course, Seymour Cassel whose pedigree is with John Cassavetes brings a brilliant performance to the role of George, but the pairing of Camp and Locke is perfect chemistry as the psychotic duo who are out to torture George.
Grindhouse Releasing presents the film in 2:39:1 in a 1080p AVC encoded transfer scanned in 4k. Everything here looks STUNNING. Colors pop, detail is excellent, and everything is filmlike and organic. Audio is presented with a DTS-HD 2.0 track in English and comes through crisp and clear. Extras include 2 commentaries, a trailer, a whole other feature film Little Miss Innocence, a feature length documentary on Peter Traynor, a series of interviews including one by Eli Roth with Colleen Camp, and much more. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!