ebossert
Like the other reviewer mentioned, don't get "X Game" confused with "Death Tube" because they are completely different movies. Also, "Death Tube" sucked while "X Game" was good. Four young people are kidnapped and forced to torture one another. This is definitely a step above the typical torture film because it has properly developed characters, an engaging storyline that incorporates the theme of bullying, and also some good suspense. Even the torture game itself is interesting to watch because it's unpredictable and uses a variety of exaggerated bullying tactics. The script is fairly ambitious with a lot of ground to cover in its three-part structure. The final section is very twisty, but the twists make sense and maintain one's interest despite dragging the film out a bit. There are also a few creepy moments to enjoy.
mandalamama
The other reviews on this page are for Deathtube, a different film by the same company. I watched X-Game on Netflix where it was actually labeled Deathtube.I enjoyed the heavy anti-bullying message of X-Game. Hideaki is our "hero" through much of the movie, yet his character proves to be more complex in the last third of the film, as do the roles of all the "bad guys." The characters are well-developed and their stories are told from multiple viewpoints. Some of the special effects are cheesy but it can be forgiven as the film works hardest to establish the roles and responsibilities of its many characters. The gore is gory, standard horror fare. Truly horrific is the bullying using the X-Game box to deliver red paper penalties, for both the children and the adults.There are no heroes when the bullied strive for revenge ... there are only new bullies. Where will it stop? Not at the end of this film. You learn in flashbacks and late reveals of the forces behind this chain of revenge. It may cause you to change your mind about the characters several times during the film.
JoeB131
this movie is pretty much in the same theme as the saw movies. People are put in a situation where they are screwing with their lives, and they prove to be really horrible human beings.Eight people who watched snuff films on line are put in a trap where they are stuck in a situation where they have to face a bunch of traps, and are systematically picked off. Except the more decent people are picked off first. By the end, the last three survivors double cross each other until only the movie's protagonist (who had to watch his girlfriend get raped and admit he couldn't love her the same way).You know, when you are typing in a plot synopsis and then realize you need to go back to drop your rating because your first inclination doesn't match the awfulness of it, that's telling in itself.I'm sure there are cultural gaps I'm not getting here, and perhaps this film made more sense to Japanese audiences. The tension does pick up in the last half hour of the film, but it takes forever to get there.
alalchemical
I don't think it's actually the 2010 Japanese movie Death Tube. The title X-Game itself has no any significance to the movie. But I noticed that the release date was September 2010, that is the same as the release of Death Tube 2. But, again, X-Game is inappropriate.I wiki'd it then: "Four young people find themselves in a classroom and forced to participate in the "X Game". Games include "Thumbtack on a chair," "Pencil Guillotine," "Clip," "School Lunch," "Slap," and the "Death Penalty". Who is behind the games? Will these young people make it out alive? ". Don't be confused. The Death Tube movies don't have anything to do with X-Game. They have obvious similarities if you watch these, though.