THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL

Cinemavixion Review

Gunnar Hellström's 1968 thriller, "THE NAME OF THE GAME IS KILL," offers a taut, atmospheric descent into the unsettling dynamics of isolation and desperation. Starring Jack Lord as a traveler who stumbles upon a seemingly hospitable desert family, the film masterfully builds suspense as the stranger gradually uncovers the sinister nature of his hosts. Susan Strasberg and Collin Wilcox Paxton deliver compelling performances, adding layers of complexity to the unfolding psychological drama. While perhaps not as widely recognized as some of its contemporaries, this film stands as a potent example of late 60s genre filmmaking, exploring themes of entrapment and the dark undercurrents that can lie beneath a veneer of civility. Its claustrophobic setting and intense character interactions make for a memorable and thought-provoking cinematic experience.