The Most Dangerous Cinema

People hunting people for sport—an idea both shocking and fascinating. In 1924 Richard Connell published a short story that introduced this concept to the world, where it has remained ever since—as evidenced by the many big- and small-screen adaptations and inspirations. Since its publication, Connell’s award-winning “The Most Dangerous Game” has been continuously anthologized and studied in classrooms throughout America. Raising questions about the nature of violence and cruelty, and the ethics of hunting for sport, the thrilling story spawned a new cinematic subgenre, beginning with RKO’s 1932 production of The Most Dangerous Game, and continuing right up to today.
This book examines in-depth all the cinematic adaptations of the iconic short story. Each film chapter has a synopsis, a “How Dangerous Is It?” critique, an overall analysis, a production history, and credits. Five additional chapters address direct to video, television, game shows, and almost “dangerous” productions. Photographs, extensive notes, bibliography and index are included.

Bryan Senn’s work has appeared in Filmfax, Cult Movies, Shivers, Midnight Marquee Press and Monsters from the Vault. The author of numerous books on the history of cinema, he lives in Montana.

Bryan Senn
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 296
Bibliographic Info: 50 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3562-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1357-4
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

 1. Pride of Place: The Most Dangerous Game (1932) 13

 2. Carbon-Copy Game: A Game of Death (1945) 23

 3. Teenage Game: Bloodlust! (1960) 33

 4. Dangerous Roughie: Confessions of a Psycho Cat (1968) 42

 5. Sexploitation Game: The Suckers (1972) 50

 6. Filipino Danger: The Woman Hunt (1973) 60

 7. Post-War Game: Open Season (1974) 70

 8. Dangerous Ozploitation: Escape 2000 (1982) 78

 9. Dangerous Action: Avenging Force (1986) 87

10. Sci-Fi Game: Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) 96

11. Rambo Game: War Cat (1987) 105

12. Dangerous Style: Hard Target (1993) 113

13. Wilderness Hunt: Surviving the Game (1994) 125

14. Comedy Game: The Pest (1997) 138

15. DTV Danger 146

16. Almost Dangerous Games 179

17. Dangerous Game Shows and Deadly Diversions 215

18. Dangerous Alien Games 231

19. Television Games 242

A Most Dangerous Conclusion 270

Chapter Notes 273

Bibliography 276

Index 279

“When Bryan Senn writes books on cinema, many monster movie fans know he grabs their attention right away and won’t let go”—Scary Monsters Magazine; “the offbeat topic of hunting people for sport is the subject of this equally offbeat book: the type of worthy volume that McFarland deserves credit for supporting…highly entertaining, meticulously researched”—Cinema Retro; “a fascinating, hugely entertaining book”—ARBA; “Senn is a cultured and entertaining writer…. Well-illustrated, well-written and well-researched, with a fabulous cover, this is certainly a book well up to McFarland’s usual high standards”—Destructive Music; “Bryan Senn is one of the very best writers on Cinema working today”—Little Shoppe of Horrors.