100 mins |
Rated
TBC
Despite their personality differences, Kate, Jay Jay, Daniel and Robbie are close college friends, bound together by their pleasure in playing a game called "Mazes and Monsters." In order to keep it interesting, they decide to take the game from the board into a real-life setting. But soon the line between reality and fantasy becomes difficult to differentiate, and what started out as just a game soon becomes a nightmare.
In 1982, the film "Mazes and Monsters" emerged as a cultural touchstone that both intrigued and alarmed the public, particularly those with school-aged children. Starring a young Tom Hanks, the movie became infamous for its controversial portrayal of role-playing games, echoing the nascent "Satanic Panic" sentiments of the decade. While it's easy to dismiss the film as a cautionary tale steeped in moral hysteria, there's more to it than meets the eye. I want to explore "Mazes and Monsters" from the vantage point of an RPG enthusiast. The goal is to dissect the film critically, examining not only its shortcomings but also the aspects of RPGs that it manages to portray accurately.
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Despite their personality differences, Kate, Jay Jay, Daniel and Robbie are close college friends, bound together by their pleasure in playing a game called "Mazes and Monsters." In order to keep it interesting, they decide to take the game from the board into a real-life setting. But soon the line between reality and fantasy becomes difficult to differentiate, and what started out as just a game soon becomes a nightmare.
In 1982, the film "Mazes and Monsters" emerged as a cultural touchstone that both intrigued and alarmed the public, particularly those with school-aged children. Starring a young Tom Hanks, the movie became infamous for its controversial portrayal of role-playing games, echoing the nascent "Satanic Panic" sentiments of the decade. While it's easy to dismiss the film as a cautionary tale steeped in moral hysteria, there's more to it than meets the eye. I want to explore "Mazes and Monsters" from the vantage point of an RPG enthusiast. The goal is to dissect the film critically, examining not only its shortcomings but also the aspects of RPGs that it manages to portray accurately.