Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

The Execution Game Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 17, 2023

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of The Game Trilogy set from Arrow.

Arrow is offering fans of Yusaku Matsuda a chance to enjoy the cooler and than cool and hipper than hip action star in a kinda sorta trilogy that according to the label is being released outside of Japan for the first time. For probably understandable reasons, the trilogy's mention of The Game and/or the very title of one of the films itself, namely The Most Dangerous Game, may evoke memories of other productions (click on the link if you're stumped), and it is probably undeniable that there are certain derivative elements at play in all three of the films included in this set, if not necessarily to either the David Fincher thriller (which, not to state the obvious, appeared decades after these films) or to the hoary 1932 effort. The back cover of this release states that these three films helped launch Yusaku Matsuda as "the Toei tough guy for a new generation", but it actually may be more meaningful to those with less international tastes unfamiliar with Toei's vaunted history to state that The Game films kind of presage the John Wick franchise in a way by profiling a laconic hitman named Shohei Narumi, who, like John, has a "particular set of skills" which dispatch any number of nemeses. While arguably not quite as florid as the John Wick films, The Game trilogy is also rather stylish in its own way, with evocative cinematography and scoring helping to support sometimes familiar storytelling.

In some ways, The Execution Game is arguably the most "gonzo" of the three Game films, which actually may make it the most alluring for a certain demographic. Screenwriter Shoichi Maruyama is on hand in a supplement discussing the almost serendipitous way he became involved in the project, while also mentioning that a major spark of inspiration for the film was Le Samouraï, which probably not so coincidentally could be seen as having helped to kickstart (emphasis on the kick part) the John Wick franchise. The Execution Game is probably the most overtly "stylish" of the trilogy, including an interesting opening vignette and rather large swaths of the film that can play with little to no dialogue.

The Execution Game relies on a disoriented (anti?) hero in precarious straits who initially has to piece together exactly what's going on and why, and the film has a deliberately disjunctive narrative as a result. While the putative forward momentum is generated by yet another assigned hit for Narumi, the film's refracted, almost dissociative, style makes this a rather interesting viewing experience that has an undeniable noir sensibility. That aspect may be aided and abetted by a presentational conceit that tends to favor dark, shadowy environments.

The Execution Game Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Execution Game is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.34:1. Arrow's insert booklet lumps all three films together on its page devoted to the restorations, per the following:

The Most Dangerous Game, The Killing Game, and The Execution Game are presented in their original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with mono sound. The high definition masters were supplied by Toei and sourced from the best available archival materials, with additional colour grading and picture restoration by Arrow Films at R3Store Studios.

Despite this being the newest of the three films in this set, it frankly had the least consistent looking presentation to my eyes, something that was perhaps exacerbated by a glut of really rather dark sequences which are afflicted with crush, but where blacks can also kind of ironically look a little milky gray at times. Both interior and exterior locations are toyed with in terms of either lighting or grading, and so some beachside material is suffused with blue while a notable interior sequence is bathed in red, with both choices perhaps limiting fine detail levels at times. This is another presentation where a certain degree of fuzziness attends even relatively more brightly lit scenes. Grain is generally tightly resolved. My score is 3.25.

The Execution Game Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with the other two films in this set, The Execution Game offers a nice sounding LPCM Mono track in the original Japanese. The absence of dialogue may help to point some very minor but still discernable background hiss, but when dialogue does occur, it's rendered cleanly and clearly. Once again Yuji Ohno's jazz inflected score helps to set the mood and always sounds clear and distortion free. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Execution Game Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Arrow has packaged The Killing Game and The Execution Game together on one disc. After selecting this film, the following supplements are accessible:

• Audio Commentary by Tom Mes


• Game Changer (HD; 22:15) is an interview with screewriter Shoichi Maruyama. Subtitled in English.


• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:28)


• Image Gallery (HD)

The Execution Game Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Execution Game is a lot of fun, even though it's deliberately disorienting, at least in its opening gambit. Probably due at least in part to a glut of very dimly lit material, this arguably has the least pleasing video, but audio is fine and the supplements very enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.