‘This Christmas, raise a little hell.’
The Sacrifice Game is a 2023 American horror film about two female boarding school students stalked by a murderous gang.
Directed and co-produced by Jenn Wexler (The Ranger) from a screenplay co-written by Sean Redlitz. Also produced by Heather Buckley, Philip Kalin-Hajdu, Albert I Melamed, Yannick Sadler and Todd Slater.
Executive produced by Mark S. Berry, Marc Cote, Duane Farley, Crystal Hill, Roman Kopelevich, Mena Massoud, Peter Phok and Olivia Scott Welch.
The AMG Music Film Television-Blackvale Films-Convoke Media-Real by Fake-Red Sea Media production stars Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Chloë Levine and Gus Kenworthy.
Plot:
Christmas break, 1971. It’s bad enough that elite boarding school students Samantha (Madison Baines) and Clara (Georgia Acken) can’t go home for the holidays, but things take a deadly turn when a murderous gang of cult killers arrives on their doorstep intent on summoning a demon. The young women must fight to survive the night…
Reviews:
“The Sacrifice Game is Wexler showing what she can do with more money and more resources. Her confidence as a filmmaker has never wavered and this melding of holiday horror with cult slasher to create a story about the power of female friendships only further proves that. The Sacrifice Game is a new holiday horror classic, at least in my book, that deserves an annual rewatch…” ★★★★½ Dread Central
“With a great location full of long corridors and spacious rooms, the film is big on atmosphere and highlights class disparities without needing to waste words. Leather and long hair and shouting convey at most a fleeting power amongst these old stones. Outside is soft snow and the silence of night. All the preparations have been made, and it’s time for a little Christmas magic.” 4 out of 5, Eye for Film
“Visual thrills continue through the film’s numerous kills and suspense beats, and while a minimal amount of CG blood is visible, the film is almost gleeful in its spurting displays of the gooey, sticky, practical red stuff. Some characters on the periphery are the first to go, but the script (by Wexler and Sean Redlitz) soon makes it clear that no one’s truly safe here. That kind of uncertainty, along with one of two tricks up the film’s sleeves, makes for a film that both entertains and keeps viewers on their toes.” Film School Rejects
“As the film progresses it twists and turns on itself, causing the viewer to question the involvement and intentions of everyone involved. As it arrives at its final formation, all hell is unleashed and the viewer is rewarded with a wickedly devious last act. A very different beast to The Ranger, with The Sacrifice Game Wexler proves herself to be more than a one-trick pony, and a talented voice to keep a close eye on.” The Hollywood News
“While the acting is the secret sauce to give a little extra oomph, it’s clear that the screenplay concocted by Wexler and Redlitz is the glue that holds everything together. Little blink-and-you-miss-it moments clue viewers in early on that something is amiss within the school, but the full picture isn’t put together until it’s too late to reverse course. By the time the big reveal occurred, I found myself cackling.” Nightmarish Conjurings
“With an attentive script (co-written by Wexler and Sean Redlitz) that humanises even its most monstrous characters, The Sacrifice Game is nasty but also often very funny. Cleverly remixing motifs from The Shining (the snowbound building, the paradoxical photographs, the axe, the hand-holding ‘sisters’), it inverts the values of Christmas, celebrates female solidarity, and lets the devil both in and outside…” 4 out of 5, SciFi Now
“Bolstered by great casting, two terrific young lead actresses, and great horror and gore, The Sacrifice Game will garner more horror fans to the directing and writing talents of Jenn Wexler. Refusing to work solely with horror’s conventions, Wexler and Redlitz shake things up, lifting this horror film free from the depths of normality. Seek it out.” Screen Anarchy
“The story itself isn’t too bad, and the twist mostly works, but the insufferable characters drag this down. The initial antagonist tries to terrorize but only comes across as a colossal douche, while the second antagonist does little more than not blink. Still worth a gander for some teeth-gritting violence.” 2 out of 4, Splatter Critic
“Special effects foreman Jean-Francois Bruneau (Blood Quantum, Aquaslash) and his crew deliver enough bloody practical effects to colour things a festive shade of red. CGI thankfully is mostly limited to a low-key transformation scene. With an inventive script, solid performances and plenty of gore, The Sacrifice Game is an enjoyable piece of seasonal slaughter.” ★★★½ Voices from the Balcony
Trailer:
Release:
The Sacrifice Game had its world premiere at the Fantasia festival in Canada before streaming on Shudder.
Cast and characters:
Mena Massoud … Jude
Olivia Scott Welch … Maisie
Chloë Levine … Rose
Gus Kenworthy … Jimmy
Madison Baines … Samantha
Derek Johns … Grant
Georgia Acken … Clara
Laurent Pitre … Doug
Bailey Thain … Popular Mean Girl
Patrick Kerton … Security Guard
Douglas Kidd … Husband
Sophie McIntosh … Sandy
Isabelle Boulton … Wife
Basil McKenna … Police Officer #1
Gabriella Mejia Perez … Girl #1
Craig Wexler … Christmas Caroler
Fadi Malo … Cop
Gale Wexler … Christmas Caroler
Jesse Sherman … TV News Anchor
Adam Kelly Morton … State Trooper
Filming locations:
Montreal, Canada
Filming dates:
May 1, 2022 – Jun 10, 2022
Production dates:
August 15, 2021 – October 31, 2022
Related:
MOVIES & MANIA provides previews of new films, our own movie reviews/ratings, and links to other reviews from trustworthy recommended sources - all in one handy web location. Plus, links to legitimately watch 1000s OF MOVIES FREE ONLINE via platforms such as Amazon Prime, Plex, Roku, Tubi and on YouTube. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a very tiny amount from any qualifying purchases.
Discover more from MOVIES & MANIA
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
