A bit trite, but they try

Rating: 6/10 (18 January 2015)

Another take off on Battle Royale here, the fight to the death, ten little Indians with one or two survivors thing.
It doesn't matter why they do it in these spectacles, because obviously there can be no justification for such a "game".
It's pretty mundane to say "killing is bad", because those of us who think the "kill" mentality of games is immature and sick, those who are the beaver and butt heads who get off on it will get off on these kind of movies just as much, unless they are shown for what they are, and the characters are shown for what they are.
That's why Battle Royale worked so well, and why The Condemned failed, because the Condemned was simply a neo Nazi propaganda movie for the sick human demons of society.
This one works fairly well, although we get lost in a bit of drag, mostly due to confusing camera work, and due to drawing out scenes too much.
Plus, the idea has been run into the ground. This movie really offers little new.
The maniac played by Sutherland is without motivation, but honestly, he is a grown up beaver and butt head. We have seen many people who worship the lack of motivation, and they are now adults in positions of power, the same nerds and geeks who praised their own inept superiority in their virtual worlds.
So the maniac ruler works well in this, and is believable. Some who might question him feel insecure and threatened if they speak up.
Some of what happens is a bit predictable. It's actually the heroics of the heroine that are most credible in this.