Ever since James Wan and Eli Roth gave us the likes of SAW and HOSTEL, there has been a drive for films that focus on survivors pitted against each other in derelict environments for the gratification of others and HEADGAME is no different. As a group of strangers awake with a camera implanted in their heads they soon realise they are victims to a cruel gambling syndicate who bet on each contestant’s survival. One by one the victims fight off the odds to survive as they battle for one sole survivor to take the place of victor.

 

There’s death a plenty and most of it satisfyingly gory for a film of such a modest budget including one acid death which is grim to watch. Fortunately most of the players are only here for these scenes and as the time ticks on for escape, the body count rises.

 

HEADGAME is by no means a bad film but packs in way too much for a 90 minute film. For a film that has a relatively short run time, it sure does drag in places. Just when you think it’s over, it throws more at you and I can’t help but feel that budgeting restrictions aside, this would have made for a better TV series. The amount of content Roberto Marinas has got in his script causes some of the key character development to sacrifice and feels jumpy. That’s not to say that there is some grace in this film, but as with many other straight to video releases, suffers through budgeting and the directors knowledge of what he can and can’t realistic handle.

 

This mixed with some amateurish perofrmances saved primarily from a great starring role in Sidney Allison put this in the horror purests catergory only and will detract mainstream movie goers.

 

Refreshingly there is little chance of a sequel as the film spirals into a mad circle of pitting victim to captive quite abruptly and while elements could have been fleshed out, the self-contained nature of HEADGAME does have a small favour that it develops at least one of its characters well enough to feel for.

 

With the right restrictions, HEADGAME could have been something special, pacing out its development into something more meaningful but instead becomes a forgettable yet enjoyable stab at voyeur horror.