Deadly Games 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Deadly Games 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 14, 2020

1989’s “Deadly Games” (also known as “36.15 code Pere Noel” or “Dial Code Santa Claus”) offers a roughhouse take on the kid-defends-castle subgenre, which found worldwide popularity with 1990’s “Home Alone.” There was a point in his life where writer/director Rene Manzor wasn’t happy with the John Hughes production, believing it lifted more than a few elements from his picture. Who knows the truth, but the reality is “Deadly Games” isn’t “Home Alone” in story or tone, with Manzor going deeper into the darkness with the endeavor, offering a lighthearted first act before things turn serious for a boy hero, who’s forced to confront some bitter realities about life while taking on violent home invader.

Thomas (Alain Lalanne) is a Rambo-loving kid living in a mansion with his mother, Julie (Brigitte Fossey), and his diabetic grandfather, Papy (Louis Ducreux). Wildly intelligent but committed to living in a fantasy world, Thomas makes plans to capture the arrival of Santa on Christmas Eve, setting up cameras around the house. While Julie tends to business as the head of a department store, Thomas is left with Papy, with the pair soon visited by Santa (Patrick Floersheim), a demented homeless man in a jolly suit who aims to murder household inhabitants. Such a threat pushes Thomas into action, using his weapons and smarts to take down Santa, trying to survive the night.

There are a few French concepts of phone line-based message board communication and department store management that might cause some initial confusion with the picture, but “Deadly Games” is otherwise quite simple in storytelling, presenting Thomas as a 10-year-old boy who’s an expert with computers, car repair, and loves to engage in war games with his dog around his house. There’s also an imaginative side to the character, who clings to the reality of Santa, looking to turn this holiday into a shot at proving the existence of the icon, using his toys to provide surveillance while his mother tends to business and his grandfather handles medical issues.

“Deadly Games” is almost joyful in its early going, watching Thomas come alive as a daydreaming soldier suiting up for battle with an “Eye of the Tiger” sound-alike song blaring on the soundtrack. He’s sharp and playful, and even Santa is a strangely unthreatening character at first. However, mental illness is quickly defined when the creep smacks a child while playing St. Nick for Julie’s store, making it clear this guy is trouble. An additional act of violence involving a dog during Santa’s household break-in increases the heaviness of the picture, which soon launches a war between Thomas and Santa, with the boy using whatever weapons he can create to inflict pain on his enemy. “Deadly Games” gets fairly serious once the chase begins, and Manzor devotes an entire hour to the battle, which is more than necessary, leaving the endeavor to drag at times when creativity runs out. Still, the movie is active, tracking Thomas’s movements all over the place, including a rooftop escape, with Manzor committed to making the most of his mansion setting.

Deadly Games 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

"Deadly Games" represents Vinegar Syndrome's third foray into UHD, offering a 2160p presentation (1.85:1 aspect ratio) that immediately sparks to life with the colors of Christmas, offering hearty greens and reds to set the seasonal mood. Hues are vibrant throughout the viewing experience, exploring deep reds on Santa's costume and household decoration, which come through sharply. Skintones are natural. Cinematographic softness is present, but detail is quite welcoming, surveying battered skin surfaces and plastic war gear wrapped around Thomas. Mansion interiors offer strong dimension, and exteriors are open for study, with "stolen shots" providing masses of crowds and street life to examine with clarity. Delineation is secure, managing shadowy encounters with satisfactory frame information, and highlights aren't blinding, doing well with the bright whites of snow, yellow car headlights, and Christmas lighting. Grain is nicely resolved, permitting a superbly film-like look to the feature.

Deadly Games 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a wide listening event for "Deadly Games," leading with sharp dialogues exchanges that explore casual banter and heighted states of awareness, with just a touch of crispiness on the higher end at times. Scoring maintains distinct instrumentation, with heavier synth sounds and rumbling percussion. Bonnie Tyler's tune carries elegantly and powerfully, providing a pleasing break from the action with a more delicate, bell-heavy sound. Atmospherics register as intended, delivering community activity and echoed room tone. Sound effects are distinct.

Deadly Games 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Forbidden Toys" (88:46, HD) is a lengthy conversation with writer/director Rene Manzor, who initially examines his place in French cinema during the 1980s, pursuing genre filmmaking when few others would. Making his debut with 1986's "The Passage," Manzor received an industry education from star Alain Delon, who became a mentor for his early career. Story inspirations for "Deadly Games" are recalled, along with some explanation of the French phone tech on display. Casting is a major topic during the interview, with Manzor expanding on his choices, including Alain Lalanne, his own son, who plays Thomas. The interviewee details his drive to offer leadership as a director, getting the actors to inhabit their parts. Technical achievements are dissected, with "Deadly Games" shot inside a large studio space, necessitating the creation of models and even animation to complete the look of the movie. Cinematographic testing is recalled, along with musical efforts, including the hiring of Bonnie Tyler to sing the theme song.

• "To Become a Man" (40:50, HD) is an interview with Alain Lalanne, who explains his entrance into acting, recruited by his father, Rene Manzor, to accept a supporting part in his first picture, "The Passage." For "Deadly Games," Lalanne was on the cusp of adolescence, playing the part of a kid warrior with real-life pacifist parents. Co-stars are recalled, sharing happy memories of the veterans he worked with, and stunts are highlighted, with the pre-teen repeatedly confronted by his issues with vertigo. More in-depth is an assessment of Manzor as a moviemaker, celebrating his father's special eye for framing, also sharing his personal relationship with the helmer, who dealt with him directly on-set. Acting inspiration is explored, and post-shoot memories are offered, including a meeting with Bonnie Tyler and his tour of film festivals. Lalanne's current job as a VFX producer is examined, working on features such as "Edge of Tomorrow" and "The Revenant."

• "Simon Says Roll Sound" (8:47, SD) is a BTS featurette, visiting cast and crew on the job during the filming of "Deadly Games."

• Photo Gallery (18:13) offers select BTS shots from "Deadly Games," with Manzor providing commentary, sharing memories from the shoot. Also included is a still from a deleted scene.

• Storyboard Comparisons (HD) (#1 - 6:51, #2 - 2:09, #3 - 1:37) provide early art and final shots from "Deadly Games."

• Pre-Trailer Model Shots (2:40, SD) feature special effects analysis and marketing intent from Manzor.

• Music Video (2:54, SD) presents "Merry Christmas" by Bonnie Tyler.

• French Teaser Trailers (1:04, SD) and T.V. Spots (:43, SD) are included.

• Trailers (HD) present offerings from France (1:41), Italy (2:35), and America (1:23).

Deadly Games 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Deadly Games" is a stylish picture with surges of inspiration, and a tune from Bonnie Tyler sets the seasonal mood quite nicely, adding some atmosphere. Manzor isn't making a romp with the feature, despite early sequences hinting at that direction. He ends up with something very dark concerning the death of innocence, limiting the fun factor of the endeavor. It's quite grim at times, but always well-made and sharply acted. The "Home Alone" comparison doesn't quite fit, with Hughes going the slapstick way with "Straw Dogs" home defense, while "Deadly Games" keeps things quite severe as it details a similar sense of childlike duty.