The Killing Game

My review was written in March 1988 after watching the movie on City Lights video cassette.

"The Killing Game" is a confusing made-for-video film that's strictly for undiscriminating renters. Same production team for nearly a dozen other City Lights video quickies strikes out with this actioner.

Chard Hayward is overly deadpan as the supposedly suave heo, who holds high-stakes gambling games in his home and also works as a hitman. He gets blackmailed after he offs a man and his mistress in their outdoor jacuzzi one night, setting an unconvincing plot line in motion.

Pic climaxes awkwardly when Hayward has a rooftop showdown with Las Vegas kingpin Robert Zdar, who wants Hayward to work for him and push drugs as well. After the blood packs finish exploding, the twist ending is predictable but bungled -identity of the blackmailer makes sense but Joseph Mrhi's direction fails to smoothly lead to the final scene's cynical punchline. Tech credits, particularly sound recording, are weak.