''Survive the Game'' (also known as ''Killing Field'') is a 2021 American
action thriller film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
directed by
James Cullen Bressack
James Cullen Bressack (born c. 1992 in Los Angeles, California) is an American film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is the son of Emmy Award-winning writer Gordon Bressack and voice actress Ellen Gerstell.Couch, Aaron (2015)Tom Gre ...
, and starring
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray (born August 24, 1981) is an American actor and writer. He is best known for playing Lucas Scott in The WB/ CW drama series ''One Tree Hill'' (2003–09, 2012), a recurring role as Tristin DuGray on The WB/ CW series ''Gilmo ...
and
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series ''Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero a ...
.
It was released in the United States on October 8, 2021 by
Lionsgate
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, doing business as Lionsgate, is a Canadian-American entertainment company. It was formed by Frank Giustra on July 10, 1997, domiciled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is currently headquartered ...
.
Plot
When David, a cop, gets injured during a drug bust gone wrong, his partner, Cal, pursues the two culprits to a remote farm owned by Eric, a troubled veteran. As Cal and Eric plan their defense, more of the gang arrives—along with a wounded David. Outnumbered, the three men must now use stealth, smarts and marksmanship to take down the drug-dealing mob.
Cast
*
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray (born August 24, 1981) is an American actor and writer. He is best known for playing Lucas Scott in The WB/ CW drama series ''One Tree Hill'' (2003–09, 2012), a recurring role as Tristin DuGray on The WB/ CW series ''Gilmo ...
as Eric
*
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series ''Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero a ...
as Det. David Watson
* Swen Temmel as Cal
* Michael Sirow as Frank
* Kate Katzman as Violet
*
Zack Ward
Zacharias Ward (born August 31, 1970) is a Canadian actor.
Early life
Ward was born on August 31, 1970, in Toronto, Ontario, the son of actress Pam Hyatt.
Career
He is best known for his character Dave Scovil (Titus's stoner half-brother) on the ...
as Mickey Jean
*
Donna D'Errico
Donna Jeanette D'Errico (born March 30, 1968) is an American actress and model. She posed for ''Playboy'' as its Playmate of the Month for September 1995 and had a starring role (1996–1998) on the television series ''Baywatch''. She continue ...
as Carly
* Canyon Prince as Andrew
*
Sarah Roemer
Sarah Christine Roemer (born August 28, 1984) is an American actress and model. One of her best-known roles was a supporting character in '' Disturbia'', and she has also starred in a number of films including ''Asylum'', '' Hachi: A Dog's Tale ...
as Hannah
*
Sean Kanan
Sean Kanan () Perelman; born November 2, 1966) is an American actor, producer, and author, best known for his portrayals of Mike Barnes (in ''The Karate Kid Part III'' and ''Cobra Kai''), A. J. Quartermaine (on ''General Hospital''), and Deacon ...
as Ed
Release
The film was released in select theaters and on VOD on October 8, 2021 and on Blu-ray and DVD on October 12, 2021.
Box office
As of August 27, 2022, ''Survive the Game'' grossed $59,347 in the United Arab Emirates.
Reception
The film has a 14% rating on
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
based on 7 reviews.
Bobby LePire of ''
Film Threat
''Film Threat'' is an online film review publication, and earlier, a national magazine that focused primarily on independent film, although it also reviewed videos and DVDs of mainstream films, as well as Hollywood movies in theaters. It first ...
'' rated the film an 8 out of 10 and wrote "''Survive The Game'' may tell an oft-told story, but the script avoids most well-worn tropes in favor of a no-frills actioner."
Jim Morazzini of ''Voices from the Balcony'' gave the movie a 3.5/5 and calls it "A better-than-average formula thriller that manages to deliver more than the usual amount of action."
Accolades
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series ''Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero a ...
was nominated for his performance in this movie, as he was for all movies he appeared in, in 2021, in the category Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie at the
Golden Raspberry Awards
The Golden Raspberry Awards (also known as the Razzies and Razzie Awards) is a parody award show honoring the worst of cinematic under-achievements. Co-founded by UCLA film graduates and film industry veterans John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, ...
. The category was later rescinded after he announced his retirement due to
aphasia
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions. The major causes are stroke and head trauma; prevalence is hard to determine but aphasia due to stroke is estimated to be 0.1–0.4% in th ...
.
References
External links
* {{IMDb title, 12861508
American action thriller films
Lionsgate films
2021 action films
2021 independent films
2020s English-language films
Films set on farms
Films directed by James Cullen Bressack
2020s American films