DANGEROUS GAME: THE LEGACY MURDERS Rolls Saw & Escape Room Into One Bloody Engaging Mystery

Posted on October 17, 2022 by chrishammond54 in Film Reviews // 0 Comments

Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders
Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Vikings), Will Sasso (MadTV, How I Met Your Mother, Less Than Perfect), Jon Voight (Coming Home, Midnight Cowboy), Laura Mennell, Megan Charpentier, Kaya Coleman, Skyler Shaye, Dylan Playfair, and Bradley Stryker.
Written by: Brian Buccellato,
Director: Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer, The King’s Daughter)
Run time: 96 minutes
Rated: R
Paramount Pictures

Review By: Chris Hammond
DANGEROUS GAME: THE LEGACY MURDERS
If copying is the best form of flattery, then Saw and The Escape Room should be flattered. This film borrows elements from both film franchises. It even has a Jigsaw(ish) voice narrating players through the “game”.

The Betts family reunion takes place in a remote mansion owned by Ellison Betts ( Jon Voight). It’s Wheelchair-ridden curmudgeon Ellison’s birthday. Sons, Alec (Will Sasso) and Kyle (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) bring their families along for the festivities. It doesn’t take long before this dysfunctional group notices that things are awry. Things get deadly fast when Ellison’s cat gets demolished due to a sink disposal.

A gift exposes the group to a board game called “Dangerous Game The legacy murders”. Picture Jumanji but if you lose you die. The traps are deadly, but not unexpected. Director McNamara ramps up the suspense in these little grotesque traps and keeps the audience guessing as to who is responsible for them.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Kyle) and Will Sasso (Alec) shine and do the dramatic heavy lifting by acting their asses off (in a good way). It was also lovely (that’s the wrong word) to see Voight get to play a heinous character again.

The film’s pace is perfect for building anxiety, but there’s a huge feeling of having been there, done that. There is a wow factor to the reveals in the film, especially during the final act.

DANGEROUS GAME – THE LEGACY MURDERS suffers only by its lack of originality. The acting is impressive, Sasso trades in his comedic chops for dramatic ones. He is the standout character and impresses, but is this enough for people to check out this movie?

I would say yes and this film is perfect to put on, especially for Halloween. It offers enough entertainment that will keep the audience guessing until the end.