The Tournament (2009)

The Tournament was the opening film at Screamfest LA 2009.  For those of you who don't know, Screamfest LA is a week long annual horror movie festival.  In 2007, the opening film was a little known movie called Paranormal Activity.  Last year's opener was Trick r Treat; a film who's praises have been sung in plenty here at Hug a Zombie.

So, it was a real head scratcher to see a not holds barred action movie kick off Screamfest LA 2009.

But, that got us thinking... if Screamfest can interrupt their regularly scheduled horror programming so can we.

Now I that I have properly caveated this review, let's talk about the movie itself.

The Tournment is gory and enjoyable collection of over the top action sequences pieced together with a flimsy if not implausable plot.  Evidently, every 7 years, the worlds best assassins compete against one another for a huge cash prize.  There is only one winner and it is a fight to the death.  Through the help of England's robust installation of public security cameras and tracking devices surgically implanted into each assassin, a group of the world's richest men are able to watch all the action from a high tech betting room. Place your bets, gentlemen.

Before long, a drunken priest (played by Robert Carlyle) finds himself unkowingly a part of the battle royale.   How can a priest make it out alive in a world gone mad with assassins?  Will anyone take sympathy on him?  What kind of odds will the over-the-top organizer/bookie (played by Liam Cunningham) give a priest?  All your questions will be answered.  Just place your bets.

Speaking of bets, it seems that the richest men in the world prefer using old fashioned cash for all their betting.  Euros, British Pounds, and US Dollars are all over the betting table.  I mean, just managing the conversion rates would be an accounting nightmare.

But I digress, if you're willing to put aside all logic, The Tournament is a fun, well executed action film.  The action sequences are CGI free which makes them all the more tense and impressive.  It has been a while since we have been treated to real car chaces and big explosions.  Each assassin employs a different skill set which keeps the action sequences fresh.  And did I mention the gore?  The Tourament does not let you down in the gruesome death department. You can bet on that.

While the ending is entirely predictable and the acting is at times laughable (I feel bad for Liam Cunningham who had to sell the audience on some of the worst lines ever written), The Tournament is totally enjoyable. The perfect action film for a horror movie festival.