Series 7: The Contenders film review

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SERIES 7: THE CONTENDERS

Timed to coincide with the return of Big Brother, Series 7: The Contenders is a wicked satire about the reality TV phenomenon taken to horrific extremes.

The Contenders is the highest rated show on US television. Six contestants are chosen by lottery, armed with a gun, then let loose to hunt down their fellow participants with a trusty cameraman in tow.

Dawn (Smith), an eight months pregnant mother-to-be from Newbury, Connecticut, is the show's reigning champion with 10 kills in two tours to her name. If she can win through just one more show then she will never have to compete in the programme again. Unfortunately, the producers have selected five opponents who will test Dawn's nerves to the limit.

There is asbestos removal worker Tony (Kaycheck), nurse Connie (Burke), typical 18-year-old Lindsay (Wever), conspiracy theorist Franklin (Venture) and pacifist Jeff (Fitzgerald), who was Dawn's high school sweetheart. Concerned not only for herself but also her unborn baby, Dawn tracks down her prey with her usual zeal. The stakes are raised even further when Dawn finally comes face to face with Jeff, rekindling old, long forgotten feelings.

There are shades of The Running Man in the life-or-death scenario - but Daniel Minahan's film is much more knowing and unnervingly plausible. The entire film is stylised to resemble a bona fide television show, with interviews with the contestants, a droll voiceover, dramatic re-enactments of the most important events and slick editing.

The structure works brilliantly, creating this believable mini-universe full of everyday folk fighting for their lives. Characters are reasonably detailed although some of the revelations about the contenders - Jeff's testicular cancer for example - are emotionally manipulative.

Performances are natural and spontaneous, and don't feel at all staged, while the shaky digital camerawork generates a sense of impending doom. Remember folks: it's only a game show!