NateWatchesCoolMovies There's a whole bushel of 'Most Dangerous Game' films out there, tweaked versions of the same motif in which human beings are hunted for sport, and often large sums of money as well. Surviving The Game is probably the most bombastic and excessive one (John Woo's Hard Target is the way to go if you want something slicker), but it's a hoot of a flick, a dingy, mean spirited exploitation piece with an eccentric cast and thrills right up to the last scene. Ice T stars here under a giant heap of dreadlocks, playing a grumpy homeless man who is approached by an alleged social worker (Charles S. Dutton, intense) and offered help in the form of some vague rehab program way out in the woods. Soon he's out in the woods at the remote retreat run by a sinister ex military Rutger Hauer, joined by other oddballs from all walks of life including F. Murray Abraham and a hopelessly coked out Gary Busey, who chews enough scenery that those giant teeth of his actually go to good use. This is no sabbatical though, as Ice soon finds out, and before he knows it he's scrambling through the wilderness for his life as Hauer & Co. pursue him with a giddy amount of heavy artillery. The film isn't interested in the morality or ethics of it's concept, it's here for a down n' dirty romp and not much else, as long as you're in popcorn mode you'll get a kick out of it. Hauer is intense as ever, with some inspired costume choices and that ever present half smirk that signals danger and violence aren't far off the horizon. Busey is certifiably, completely off his head, spouting monologues that weren't even in the script (Hauer's autobiography provides hilarious behind the scenes insight) and staring down everything that moves in true loosey Busey fashion. Throw in a manic John C. McGinley as well and you've got just about as much crazy as the film can handle. The combat hunting scenes really are impressive and thrilling, well staged stunts against a wilderness backdrop and raucous gunplay all round. An oddball of a flick, in the best way.

chris redfield being a bit generous with my interpretation maybe but you could say the plot can be considered a metaphor for how people take advantage of others that are down on their luck and masquerade as a helping hand. don't think this is a great piece of thought provoking cinema though, its really a far fetched story of successful people finding ways to get their kicks by hunting human beings as sport. the rag tag cast of bad guys do a pretty good job of posing as businessmen and high profile professionals with murderous and maladjusted personalities. for a good portion of movie we focus on ice t, who appears to be portrayed as a hapless naive suicidal homeless man (although his personal troubles I feel are not explored enough for the audience to fully sympathies or understand him). his only main advantage is his seemingly fantastic physical ability. its only later on that we see a man who is a little more savvy and able to out smart his hunters. although for someone so keenly and skilfully able to manipulate the people out to get him he does make some incredibly bad errors. this film seems so inconsistent both in ideas and pace. most of the deaths end up seeming quite ludicrous mainly through the fault of how it shows us how each is being dispatched. for the most part there doesn't appear to be any drama, tension or humanity to their demises, they are simply offed strangely and treated as a number on the list of baddies. sure, sometimes you want a baddie to disappear without much celebration.but I just feel that this film doesn't really offer much in the department its supposed to be geared for, there is no plot twists or intelligent writing here just simple bog standard against all odds survival clichés. for the most part its forgettable aside from the noted childhood recollection in the cabin from busey. and hauer sometimes displays a good screen presence although this isn't hauer's best. john c mcginley did a pretty good job with getting into character.

Bob_the_Hobo Homeless Mason (Ice-T) is taken under the wing of soup-kitchen worker Cole (Charles S. Dutton) and businessman Burns (Rutger Hauer), offered a comfortable position as a tour guide at Burns' ranch, and taken out there by private plane. Mason meets other hunters (F. Murray Abraham, Gary Busey, John C. McGinley, and William McNamara). Turns out things are good to be true, and the thing being hunted is Mason himself.A great movie. Flawless, and exactly what an action movie should be. It has you asking questions, wondering what you would do in that situation. It's a tour-de-force, with outstanding performances by everyone involved. The villains are vile and Ice-T is a great hero. The action is tight and believable.I can't endorse it enough, this is a great movie. Enjoy.

merklekranz "Surviving the Game" is a hunted in the woods action picture with numerous problems. The set up in Seattle, with Ice T being duped into becoming the hunted, takes way too long. Once in the remote wilderness, there are frequent talky moments that seem like, and are, nothing but celluloid filler. The movie becomes less and less logical as it goes along, and the conclusion is a total train wreck. A night instantly changing into day sequence on atv's is absolutely priceless. Some of the acting is acceptable, and character development is pretty good, but the film fails to impress, because eventually all logic flies out the window, and the ending is rushed and wretched. - MERK