“13: Game of Death” UK DVD Cover
AKA: 13 Beloved, 13 Game Sayong
Director: Chookiat Sakveerakul
Cast: Krissada Sukosol, Sarunyoo Wongkrachang, Achita Sikamana, Nattapong Arunnate, Namfon Pakdee, Piyapan Choopech, Philip Wilson
Running Time: 109 min.
By Mighty Peking Man
Chit is a young salesman who is experiencing rough times: His girlfriend just left him, he’s in serious debt and his car has just been repossessed because of late payments. To make matters worse, he comes into work to find out that his company is letting him go because of his poor sales performance.
One day, Chit gets a mysterious call from a cell phone-based “game show” that offers him the chance to take part in a contest where he can win $100 million dollars. The rules are simple: He has to complete 13 tasks given by an automated operator. With each task he completes, large sums of the money are instantly deposited into his account.
Though the first few tasks are easy and fun (ie “kill the fly that’s buzzing around you with a newspaper”), the ones that come later become less appealing, gruesome and deadly; and just when you think the tasks can’t get any worse, they do.
13: Game of Death (also known as 13 Beloved) is a pleaser from start to finish. I was always in suspense at what – or how f*cked up – the next challenge would be. Even though the film relies mostly on gore and shock value, there are surprising turns that play an important part into the plot.
13: Game of Death is definitely a great change from the typical horror/ghost movies that Asian film directors have been pumping out. Give it a shot. If anything, it’s a decent R-rated popcorn flick. In 2014, the film was remade by Daniel Stamm (The Last Exorcism) and called 3 Sins.
Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 7/10
