Gatlopp Hell of a Game (2022) Movie Review – Fun Horror Comedy
Director: Alberto Belli
Writer: Jim Mahoney (Screenplay)
Starring: Jim Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, Amy Davidson, Patricia Belcher
Plot: A group of old friends reunite for a nostalgic evening of fun and games after a decade apart. After one too many, they decide to play a drinking game, but it’s quickly revealed that this game comes with supernatural stakes. Mischief leads to mayhem. The group realizes that if they can’t come together to win the game by sunrise, they will be forced to play for eternity – in hell.
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Gatlopp Hell of a Game starts as we meet the group of old friends, Paul (Mahoney), Sam (Raver-Lampman), Cliff (Bass) and Troy (Jackson). They get to see how their lives have gone in different directions, before they look to set up for a game night.
The game in question is Gatlopp, one that is meant to test friendships. Which will see the four having a few too many drinks and looking back on their lives. Discovering the game is much more difficult than they imagined.
Thoughts on Gatlopp
Characters & Performances
Paul is going through a messy divorce, struggling to move on in life. Until his friends look to help him cheery up in life. He reluctantly agrees to play the game, getting to face the problems the game brings up. Sam is a producer that has been putting her work before he personally life. Which has seen her become controlling at work and distant in life. Troy is a famous actor that remains loyal to his old friends, trying to keep down to Earth with how he approaches his life. Cliff is a stoner that doesn’t seem to have done much with his life. Finding himself needing to see his old friends more than he is willing to admit, bringing the game to the table.
The four leads Jim Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, jon Bass and Sarunas J Jackson are all wonderful, showing great chemistry between the four.
Story
The story will follow four friends that come together after years apart for a game night. Only to find out the game has deeper consequences are the friends must look into their past to test their friendship. The story will channel the idea that a game could be more than a board game. Like Jumanji, but is only seems to have one set of peril around the game unfold. Being more moments of strange events or needing to accept letting the secrets out being what will drive things forward. The mix of everything together does work well for the film, bringing the friendship closer even after years apart. While having wacky games to be played. This could easily have had bigger games being played, which would have increase peril going on.
Themes
Gatlopp Hell of a Game is a horror comedy that will look to bring the scares’ from the game being played, with the unexplained moments going on. Each game will bring something more surprising, with certain ones having comedy, serious life matters or horror. Most of the film takes place in the one location, which works for the film, adding a shock when certain moments happen.
Signature Films and Signature Entertainment presents Gatlopp: Hell of a Game on Digital Platforms June 27th.
Final Thoughts – Gatlopp Hell of a Game has plenty of comedy, real emotion and the twisted horror of surprise.
