Survive the Game (2021)
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This may not be considered authentic “horror”, but it packs a punch! And a bloody one, at that. Detective David (Willis) and his partner, officer Cal (Temmel) are about to take down one of the most brutal drug mobs around, when the plan backfires and an extensive chase begins which brings the entire gang onto the private farmland of a disturbed young veteran, Eric (Murray.)
The onslaught that ensues is relentless as each criminal is introduced with vengeance, hostility and even some bumbling antics that result in getting them picked off one by one. (Careful who you turn your back upon!)
David is the expert, leading his 2-man brigade into dangerous territory when the delinquent couple Mickey and Violet (Ward and Katzman) proceed to flee from a drug bust into a vet’s quaint countryside, awaiting their crew to draw out the enemy. It’s kill or be killed, after all. And they aren’t going down without a fight.
Thus, the game begins with the “bad guys” outnumbering the “good guys”, using their now injured hostage, Detective David as bait.
Bressack once again perfects the tense buildup of cat-and-mouse survival tactics through the most effective character, Cal (Temmel.) Throughout most of the film, Cal does his best work with meticulous approach of fury, to nab each mobster without much weaponry as back up. It’s an extreme calculated risk, all to keep farmer Eric and his own partner David safe as he courageously sprints through the fields while shots are fired at him like a carnival game.
Mickey (Ward) is exceptional as a kooky, cliché-spewing punk, unafraid of jeopardizing his position within the gang through smart ass remarks and knife wielding techniques. For the first 20 minutes, I didn’t even recognize Ward in this role! He skillfully morphed into the tormenting Mickey with comparable “Natural Born Killers” style. Unfortunately, Katzman’s Violet amounted to a downgraded Harley Quinn performance that needed to be silenced from the moment she spoke. With that being the only negative, the success of Survive the Game will be unmistakable.
And what can be said about the insurmountable Bruce Willis other than he remains tough as nails? He brings the same John McClane grit from Die Hard, of course – survive the game, and call it a day. No one survives better than Willis.