Death Games are becoming increasingly popular as a subgenre, which is brutal to see and think about – in this article, I bring the best TV shows and movies in that genre.
Are we that bloodthirsty audience? Most people love playing games, and in these films and TV series endings, you die if you don’t win. Death Games provide audiences with a safe form of adrenaline chasing—we get a thrill simply from watching. Audiences can also participate in the competition, placing bets with family and friends on who they think will win.
Saw (2004)
It’s probably one of the more gruesome and terrifying film franchises ever. The first film out of the ten available follows the story of two men who awaken to find themselves on opposite sides of a dead body, each with specific instructions to kill the other or face consequences. These two are the latest victims of the Jigsaw Killer.
Squid Game (2021)
This Korean drama series took the world by storm during lockdown as we all became obsessed with what we would do if put in this situation where you have to win games to live.
Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but they’re all in panic mode as they realize only one will win. The games are creative, dramatic, and intense.
The Hunger Games (2012)
The Hunger Games film series comprises science fiction dystopian adventure films based on the trilogy of novels by American author Suzanne Collins.
Twelve districts live in poverty, and once a year, they are forced to select one boy and one girl as tributes to fight in the Hunger Games. The survivor wins food for their district, but to do this, they must fight and kill everyone in the games.
The Platform (2019)
This thriller horror film will leave you feeling uncomfortable and sickly. Set in a prison where inmates are fed on a descending platform, those on the upper levels take more than their fair share, while those below are left to starve on scraps; one man decides to try and change the system.
Alice in Borderland (2020)
This Japanese science fiction thriller series has two seasons to binge so far. It revolves around obsessed gamer Arisu, who suddenly finds himself in a strange, empty version of Tokyo. He quickly realizes that he and his friends must compete in dangerous games to survive.
Battle Royale (2000)
Japanese action thriller film Battle Royale sees 42 teenagers who are sent to a desert island and given food, a map, and weapons. There’s an explosive collar around their necks, and if they break a rule, it will explode. The mission is to kill one another and be the last one standing – the survivor can then leave the island.
Death Race 2000 (1975)
This is a wild watch but worth it, especially if you’re a Stallone fan or a fan of films with car chases. The film is set in a dictatorship, and the President commands a brutally violent race. He’ll reward the driver who kills the most people while racing. A group decides enough is enough and revolts against this horrendous game.
The Game (1997)
It’s a fantastic David Fincher film that everyone should see. A wealthy San Francisco banker receives a strange birthday gift – an invitation to play a mysterious game. As it’s from his brother, he uses the present but finds himself in a serious situation where he’s playing for his life.
Choose or Die (2022)
This thriller-drama surrounds a broke student who plays an obscure 1980s survival computer game in pursuit of an unclaimed $100,000 prize. After a series of unexpected and scary moments, she realizes she’s no longer playing for the money but for her own life.
3% (2016)
This Brazilian political thriller series is an intense and brutal portrayal of a dystopian society. The majority of the population lives in poverty in an area known as the Inland. An elite group lives in a virtual paradise called the Offshore. Once a year, each 20-year-old gets a chance to make it to paradise by taking a series of tests. Only 3% usually succeed.
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