Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Fatal Games Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 4, 2024

In the great slasher cinema race of the 1980s, the marketplace was filled with strange characters and bizarre weapons. 1984’s “Fatal Games” looks to join the fun by taking its version of absolute terror to a school for athletes, where a masked killer is trying to pick off the students with a javelin. It’s a pretty cumbersome weapon, but the javelin is part of the ride of “Fatal Games,” which is as routine as it gets when it comes to cooking up horror happenings, but there’s a certain oddness to the picture that keeps it mildly interesting. It’s not a shining example of the subgenre, but the effort wins when it tries to sell absolute silliness with a straight face.

At the Falcon Academy of Athletics, preparation for Olympic glory has commenced, with various athletes working on their training while also dealing with social and romantic commitments. Annie (Tracie Hellberg) is focused on her future as a gymnast, but she’s dealing with her father, who doesn’t support her vision for success, and she deals with Phil (Sean Masterson), her boyfriend, with the runner struggling with his undersexed ways. As the students work on their daily training and palling around, a threat has come to the facility, with a masked killer using a javelin to murder them all, one by one, on a quest to take out those with sporting potential.

There’s a rich sense of competition at Falcon, with even a school dinner turning into a showdown as napkin use transforms into a tug of war match. Annie’s in the middle of it, trying to stay focused on her potential, joined by swimmer Lynn (Teal Roberts, “Hardbodies”) and Joe (Nicholas Love), who’s desperate to master the javelin. Nurse Diane (Sally Kirkland) tends to student bodies, while Coach Drew (Spice Williams-Crosby) covers swimming, in a secret relationship with student Shelly (Lauretta Murphy). The screenplay makes some effort to bring a little dimension to a few of the characters, but nothing is taken all the way in “Fatal Games,” with Annie established as the main character, while director Michael Elliot figures out ways to bring the movie up to a sellable run time and return to the shower room as much as possible.

“Fatal Games” doesn’t skimp on B-movie elements, with Elliot careful to include nudity and character shenanigans, keeping the male athletes chasing the females. Dramatically, there’s not much to the feature outside of Annie’s desire to find success as a gymnast, and the helmer is no great visionary when it comes to suspense, with much of “Fatal Games” dealing with people moving around the dark while danger slowly, and I mean slowly, finds them, ready to harpoon them in various areas of the facility. The kills aren’t especially gory, but there’s some snap to the violence, as it involves a weapon of blunt horror, and Elliot respects that, creating some amusing finality for the endeavor, which causes only a mild sense of panic at Falcon.

Fatal Games Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from a 35mm dupe negative." "Fatal Games" definitely shows the limitations of its source, but for those who've been raised on the VHS release of the feature, the Blu-ray tries to offer a decent viewing experience. Detail is soft, but frame information is appreciable, exploring character appearances and school events. Gyms and pools remain passably dimensional, and a few exteriors of the building hold some depth. Color does what it can, offering some brighter primaries on costuming and athletic environments. Skin tones are within the realm of natural, along with greenery. Blood retains a deeper red. Delineation struggles some with evening activities and shadow play, but nothing is completely lost. Grain is capably resolved. Source is a little battered, with brief points of damage and scratches.

Fatal Games Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix also works with certain technical limitations. Dialogue exchanges aren't always fresh, but unintelligibility isn't an issue, working with different performance choices and levels of emphasis. Scoring preserves heavier synth stings, and soundtrack selections offer acceptable clarity. Sound effects are appreciable.

Fatal Games Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features podcaster Bill Ackerman and author Amanda Reyes.

• "A Great Day at the Office" (8:57, HD) is an interview with actress Melissa Prophet, who shares her casting story, already used to physical activity as a former dancer. The interviewee shares the professional approach of the production, enjoying her time on the set, and she reveals her displeasure with her early exit from the movie. Co-stars are recalled, including Sally Kirkland, thrilled to share a key scene with the veteran actress. Director Michael Elliot is celebrated, and Prophet reflects on her achievements on the production.

• "Cutting Gym Class" (8:38, HD) is an interview with editor/associate producer Jonathon Braun, who recalls his development at USC, attracting attention for his work on various projects. Memories of director Michael Elliot are shared, with the helmer turning to games of pick up sticks to determine shot length in "Fatal Games." Music by Shuki Levy is detailed, with one of Braun's mistakes during his handling of the score making it into the final cut. Nude doubles and cult longevity is also analyzed.

• "The Winning Touch" (7:58, HD) is an interview with actress Tracie Hellberg, who was a genuine gymnast, finding her way into "Fatal Games," enjoying the character, but nudity requirements were complicated, requiring a body double. Co-stars are recalled, and director Michael Elliot is fondly remembered. Acting demands are also shared, including physical action and screaming ability.

• "Going for the Gold" (10:45, HD) is an interview with actor Sean Masterson, who recalls his audition story, hired due to his physical resemblance to the lead actress. "Fatal Games" was shot at Masterson's old high school, providing an extra thrill during production. The publicity concept driving "Fatal Games" is identified, which was created to cash in on Olympic fever in 1984. Memories of the shoot are offered, remarking on the speed of production, and acting choices are identified, with Masterson learning quickly that second takes weren't happening on this set. The interviewee closes with a story of Sally Kirkland's negative reaction to the film.

• "Death on the Staircase" (9:30, HD) is an interview with actor Michael O'Leary, who put in the time to learn some gymnastic skills for the part, only to be replaced at the last minute by a stunt double. O'Leary recalls director Michael Elliot's extreme speed as a filmmaker, often picking up shot on a whim, failing to offer motivation. The interviewee details his experience with potentially harmful special effects, and his time with co-star Sally Kirkland.

• "It's the Taking Part That Counts" (6:08, HD) is an interview with actress Spice Williams-Crosby, who charts her early career as a twin dance act with her sister. Making her way into acting, the interviewee seized a part in "Fatal Games," discussing her character and performance choices, also handling the lesbian elements of the role without a willing scene partner.

• Original "The Killing Touch" Title Card (:09, HD) is provided.

• Image Gallery (4:57) collects theatrical and VHS poster art, BTS snaps, and publicity shots.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:08, HD) is included.

Fatal Games Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Fatal Games" struggles with pacing and filler, but as these things go, it's relatively well acted, with Kirkland endeavoring to make something out of her part, and Hellberg is perfectly pleasant in the lead role, adding gymnast physicality to the feature. Where "Fatal Games" ultimately goes is a little too much for the writing to handle, but Elliot doesn't seem to care all that much about motivation, preferring to focus on kills and all the walking required to arrive at them, making sure the picture has some potency when it comes to shocking deaths and well-showered young people.