Fatal Games (1984) coming from Vinegar Syndrome

[El Sleezo]

I know what he’s referring to, and I’ll just say one of VS’ founders thought 80’s sex comedies were too conservative for his liking. I doubt anyone is going to have their worldview changed or validated because of Fatal Games in 2023.

And if that does happen

[Show spoiler]you might instead go after the film with the twist from the year previous that FG ripped off.

[redrunner97]

No spoilers but this isn't even the only '80s slasher with

[Show spoiler]that exact same plot twist

(imo this one is just a little extra offensive lol)... But guess what? Slasher fans from ALL walks of life have been clamoring for this movie to get a release for DECADES. If VS is "pandering" to anybody, it's just... baseline slasher-obsessed horror nerds lmao. It's not that deep.

[mclellandj]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

No spoilers but this isn't even the only '80s slasher with

[Show spoiler]that exact same plot twist

(imo this one is just a little extra offensive lol)... But guess what? Slasher fans from ALL walks of life have been clamoring for this movie to get a release for DECADES. If VS is "pandering" to anybody, it's just... baseline slasher-obsessed horror nerds lmao. It's not that deep.

I’m shocked it’s so popular tbh. There is absolutely nothing of note about it other than REDACTED.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

I’m shocked it’s so popular tbh. There is absolutely nothing of note about it other than REDACTED.

It's got a masked killer (sports jacket), a theme (Olypmics), a signature weapon (javelin), a cheesy opening theme song ...and boobs! 1984 was the tail-end of the slasher golden age kicked off by Halloween, right as A Nightmare on Elm Street was about to come in and shake things up by injecting a supernatural element into the increasingly stale formula. Fatal Games is definitely more of a footnote compared to the bigger, flasher slashers from that era, but it's an important one that desperately needed to be preserved.

[JasonMichael]

I have no interest in watching this film, but all this hedging about what audience was being pandered to and the redacted info has me very curious. If anyone would be kind enough to PM me some spoilers and political pandering it would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[Walter Kafka]

I love pandering if it's pandering to me.

[postmodel]

As I await the April Fools slip…and not the movie itself cause I had no intention of ordering it so soon…I now regret this decision. Haha. Political pandering? Now I wanna jump on this release to see what all the hubbub is about. Nothing about the film or plot ever gave me a sense of something like this. Is the “twist” ending i see some mention, without spoiling, really that crazy?

Legitimate question too…not trying to stir anything.

[bergman864]

Had absolutely no interest in this film but all this talk has made me want to at the very least watch it.

[Nosferatu31]

Imagine Sleepaway Camp with Olympic athletes and probably the most nudity you'll ever see in a slasher film, that's Fatal Games.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu31

Imagine Sleepaway Camp with Olympic athletes and probably the most nudity you'll ever see in a slasher film, that's Fatal Games.

But apparently with some pandering political agenda that triggered some here who as a result now think less of VS!!! In the words of Martin Scorsese "That's cinema!!!".

(My request to be PMed details of this movie still open. Thanks.) Only ONE forum member was nice enough to PM me the details. Thank you!

[Nosferatu31]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

But apparently with some pandering political agenda that triggered some here who as a result now think less of VS!!! In the words of Martin Scorsese "That's cinema!!!".

(My request to be PMed details of this movie still open. Thanks.)

It does deal with a topic going on today in woman's sports but i don't see the pandering, maybe someone can fill me in on that. I'm just enjoying a good 80's slasher film.

[barsalou]

VS ain't pandering to anyone but slasher nuts on this one, trying to create a controversy around this release is laughable and annoying.

[bergman864]

I've done my research and now know the "twist". I highly doubt the most vocal of the current political landscape know about VS or even that this movie exists. This appeals to slasher fans.

[benricci]

VS is pandering to slasher fans, plain and simple.

Look, I'm sorry some of you do not like transgender people, truly I am. It says a lot more about you than it does some underground home video label just trying to put out releases people have been asking for.

Because really that's what this is about. Let's stop pretending it's anything else, and be adults and say what we're all thinking and stop beating around the bush.

This is not about VS's supposed politics or any made-up controversy that some random forum member has decided to invent out of thin air. This is about a grimy 80s slasher picture that collectors want because...well, they are collectors and this has been missing from most collections for years.

The actual twist of the movie is irrelevant to its desirability on blu-ray. Your dislike of transgender people is also irrelevant to its release on home video.

Can we move on now?

[Damonstein]

Lol some people on this forum love to imagine the world at large scrutinizing the movies they watch so they can feel like they're fighting some kind of good fight. Trust me guys, no one cares about deep cut slashers but you.

[TenYearLurker]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

Also I'm going to be vague here but it kind of made me think a little less of the folks at Vinegar Syndrome

I'm sure they're just devastated

Originally Posted by mclellandj

as it's pretty obvious who they were pandering to by selecting it as a release

Originally Posted by mclellandj

given that it has no notable qualities as a film.

Is this your first VS purchase or something? Many people would say the same exact thing about the majority of their releases (though I wouldn't).

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

Man this movie sucked haha. Absolutely no skill or art behind it.

Also I'm going to be vague here but it kind of made me think a little less of the folks at Vinegar Syndrome as it's pretty obvious who they were pandering to by selecting it as a release given that it has no notable qualities as a film.

Of all the posts I've read on this forum... this one takes the cake and runs laps with it.

[bsend]

Originally Posted by barsalou

VS ain't pandering to anyone but slasher nuts on this one

They keep announcing that they have slashers but they seem to be pandering to those who want movies "filmed through a slasher lens".

[crikan]

Originally Posted by mclellandj

Man this movie sucked haha. Absolutely no skill or art behind it.

Also I'm going to be vague here but it kind of made me think a little less of the folks at Vinegar Syndrome as it's pretty obvious who they were pandering to by selecting it as a release given that it has no notable qualities as a film.

It is a slasher. Slashers are the best selling and most requested sub-genre that Vinegar Syndrome caters too. Merit and/or quality has no bearing with slasher fans. Its that simple.

The majority of Vinegar Syndrome's catalog are "bad films" and Fatal Games fits perfectly.

[postmodel]

After deciding to “take it easy” this sale, I have 10 releases on the way from VS (including the Lost Films set). I wish VS would stop pandering to me. Why do they want my money? It’s damn near offensive.