Interesting if a bit slow
Added 7/20/2009
The Bottom Line:
Series 7: The Contenders is a razor-sharp satire of reality television that uses all the trappings of the metier it is skewering to make the film actually seem like a "marathon" edition of "Series 7," the hot new show in which middle Americans hunt each other down on camera; the film is often more interesting in conception than in execution but it's still worth a look.
3/4
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B-Rated Cult Classic. Running Man Eat Your Cinematic-Heart Out
Added 8/24/2008
When it comes to B-rated films, this one tops the list. 'Series 7: The Contenders' is an almost campy parody of reality television, similar to Schwarzenegger's 'Running Man' and Japanese cult classic, 'Battle Royale'
Presented as TV marathon of the 7th series of a reality show, the film takes place in America and the show is called The Contenders. Six people, picked at random from a national lottery, are given guns and forced to hunt and kill each other for the cameras.
It's a dark satire of the reality TV genre. Starring Brooke Smith as Dawn, a pregnant mother and the reigning champion from the fifth and sixth series, 'Series 7: The Contenders' asks the question: 'Is she the monster for killing and doing what it takes to survive, or are we, the viewers, the monsters for entertaining ourselves with tragedy and meaningless death. Humanity's need to watch things die, from a good safe distance, as Maynard James Keenan once put it, is effectively portrayed with all the campy B-rated fun necessary to make a successful cult classic.
The film is littered with interview segments, commercial previews, complications due to technical error, confrontations with the camera-crew, dramatic re-enactments and cliffhanger promos, giving it the authenticity of a reality TV show. The film purposely leaves many key details unexplained, as the viewer is supposed to be watching only what the creators actually aired in the fictional TV show. It is not explained how the TV show got into so powerful a position that it could randomly select people to be killed, but all the Contenders treat it as something they have absolutely no control over, which is possibly a reflection of television's influence over society.
The soundtrack is also noteworthy, but I'll stop here. Just buy the movie, watch something that makes you think for once, and enjoy your purchase.
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Awesome cult classic
Added 6/23/2008
So hard to find this cult classic movie that should have made it much higher in the box office that it did. I'd recommend this to anyone with a good sense of humor and who is into thriller or action/drama movies. Great buy if you can find a copy!
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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If Only We'd Known
Added 11/26/2007
SERIES 7 is a prescient film about the absurdly illogical conclusion to "reality" competition shows. What's even more amazing is that this film came out before these shows actually had a stranglehold on American prime-time television.
SERIES 7 takes a look at a fictional reality show (like they aren't already) in which contestants survive by, well, surviving. Last one alive is the winner. When this movie begins, it's obvious that the "show" has been around for several seasons. I don't want to give away anything because this is one of those films in which every line, scene, and plot point is potentially important and entertaining. Suffice it to say, the "show's" producers find ways to spin events as their ratings require (such as the contestant who chooses to stab "himself in the back" as his method of commit suicide).
If you hate SURVIVOR, et al, as much as I do, get this yesterday. - Chris
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