Unable to resist a seductress taunting him with the dance of the seven "boners", another unlucky contestant succumbs by electrocution in the outrageous "Deathrow Gameshow." The movie is sort of an odd mixture of a Paul Bartel "black comedy", crossed with "Amazon Women on the Moon". Like those films the plot is merely something threaded together between tasteless commercials and some truly hilarious moments. While the acting is decidedly inferior, it only adds to the charm, because of the obvious enthusiasm involved. Definitely not bloody, definitely moments of hilarity, definite nudity that doesn't come across as merely gratuitous, "Deathrow Gameshow" is definitely worth seeing, especially for fans of "dark comedy." - MERK
22 Reviews
Win Or Die In Future Gameshows (Of 1991)
Witchfinder-General-66623 May 2007
Mark Pirro's "Deathrow Gameshow" of 1987 is a black comedy that is extremely cheesy in many parts, but occasionally very funny nevertheless. This movie could certainly have been a lot better, the acting is terrible, and some extremely cheesy scenes make it hard to watch at times, but the concept is funny, and it has some hilarious moments.
In the near future (the year 1991), game shows have changed. Chuck Todean (John Mc Cafferty) hosts a game show called "Live Or Die", in which convicted death row inmates have the chance to play for their lives, and for money. Candidates who fail, get executed on the air using many different methods, such as guillotines, electric chairs, and other, more bizarre devices of execution, followed by applause from the cheering studio audience. The show is, of course, more than controversial, and Chuck has made lots of enemies...
"Deathrow Gameshow" is incredibly cheesy and crappy in many aspects, and the acting is terrible, but it is without doubt fun in many parts, especially if you're a fan of dark humor. You haven't missed anything if you haven't seen it, but it is definitely funny and a good time waster. 4/10
In the near future (the year 1991), game shows have changed. Chuck Todean (John Mc Cafferty) hosts a game show called "Live Or Die", in which convicted death row inmates have the chance to play for their lives, and for money. Candidates who fail, get executed on the air using many different methods, such as guillotines, electric chairs, and other, more bizarre devices of execution, followed by applause from the cheering studio audience. The show is, of course, more than controversial, and Chuck has made lots of enemies...
"Deathrow Gameshow" is incredibly cheesy and crappy in many aspects, and the acting is terrible, but it is without doubt fun in many parts, especially if you're a fan of dark humor. You haven't missed anything if you haven't seen it, but it is definitely funny and a good time waster. 4/10
Funny premise but lacks in many departments.
Captain_Couth14 October 2003
Deathrow Gameshow is a bad movie that has a funny concept. Unfortunately, the film-makers decided on using a lame script, bad actors and a cheap budget when they made this flick. Well, it was kinda funny is a trashy sort of way. I enjoyed it when I was 13 years old. Oh well, maybe somebody will pick up the concept and maybe they could do a better job. One could hope.
Recommended for it's dark humor.
B
Recommended for it's dark humor.
B
A one-of-a-kind film!
JimHammond2 August 2002
This movie is one of those rare offerings of pure, harmless, campy entertainment! Despite its failure to win a mainstream audience, it does have its own cult following, and it is too bad that the character of Gloria Sternvirgin (aka gloriabitch) was never given a sequel to expand her role. Some of the dialogue and actions of this film hit the bullseye, and the only other films where this combination (and type) of humor and plot structure could be found where in those directed by Paul Bartel (Deathrace 2000, Eating Rauol, Class Struggle in Beverly Hills).
It's just a feeling! - see this movie, you will like it.
It's just a feeling! - see this movie, you will like it.
A lame comedy which should have been a lot better
Red-Barracuda2 August 2015
Deathrow Gameshow is one of the later films released by b-movie producers Crown International Films. Despite being a satirical comedy, this is unfortunately one seriously stupid movie. Set in the near future, it centres on a slick and unlikable television presenter who is the host of a game-show called 'Live or Die' where death row inmates compete to try and avoid execution, failure results in them being killed live on air.
At best, this one is amusing on rare occasions but is mainly very lame indeed. It relies far too much on gross 'humour' such as a close up of a man messily eating spaghetti, and the parody material is really pretty marginalised by the end. What is so unfortunate is that the basic idea underpinning the movie is relatively good, if unoriginal. They just didn't write a good script for it at all sadly and the very low budget obviously didn't help either in transferring the reasonable concept to the screen. There were also some very annoying acting performances too which, suffice to say, hardly helped matters. Pretty rubbish on the whole.
At best, this one is amusing on rare occasions but is mainly very lame indeed. It relies far too much on gross 'humour' such as a close up of a man messily eating spaghetti, and the parody material is really pretty marginalised by the end. What is so unfortunate is that the basic idea underpinning the movie is relatively good, if unoriginal. They just didn't write a good script for it at all sadly and the very low budget obviously didn't help either in transferring the reasonable concept to the screen. There were also some very annoying acting performances too which, suffice to say, hardly helped matters. Pretty rubbish on the whole.
It Stinks
TheExpatriate70015 April 2011
Deathrow Gameshow takes a potentially hilarious premise and wastes it. It has a few humorous scenes interspersed with a lot of crud. A bit of satire, in this case, does not go a long way.
The film's low budget does it in. With a title like Deathrow Gameshow, you would expect a lot of funny death sequences. However, few of the deaths are actually shown on screen, probably due to the lack of a special effects budget. Instead, the film relies on scenes of a fat man chewing spaghetti with his mouth open for laughs.
Also, the acting plain reeks. The lead is boring, as is the supporting cast. The line delivery is amateurish and stilted. Only a few of the jokes, such as a reference to a character as a "human rectum," manage to survive.
The film's low budget does it in. With a title like Deathrow Gameshow, you would expect a lot of funny death sequences. However, few of the deaths are actually shown on screen, probably due to the lack of a special effects budget. Instead, the film relies on scenes of a fat man chewing spaghetti with his mouth open for laughs.
Also, the acting plain reeks. The lead is boring, as is the supporting cast. The line delivery is amateurish and stilted. Only a few of the jokes, such as a reference to a character as a "human rectum," manage to survive.
A crowning glory - the worst film to come from Crown International Pictures?
Leofwine_draca21 November 2015
Strangely, this cheapo effort from Crown International Pictures seems to have got plenty of air time on UK TV channels over the years. I remember when Bravo used to show it all the time at the turn of the millennium, and now Talking Pictures TV have picked it up as part of their Crown package. I guess the title is what sells it, but the film doesn't match.
Whichever way you look at it, this has to be the worst Crown picture of all, and they made a lot of dross over the years. DEATHROW GAMESHOW paints picture of a mildly futuristic society in which the masses turn in to see contestants in life-or-death games. THE RUNNING MAN is clearly the film that's being ripped off here, but it's not even close to the quality of that cheesy Schwarzenegger action flick.
Instead DEATHROW GAMESHOW is a bore, devoid of laughs and incident. A number of prisoners take part in tasks they can't possibly win, and then the deaths are usually cut away from. This is bargain basement stuff, with appallingly over the top acting and not one ounce of wit in the script stakes. Yes, there's a little obvious satire, but when most of the laughs come from reaction shots of a fat guy eating spaghetti or the crude name-calling of the host then you know you're in trouble. This really is hopeless and I can think of few films worse or indeed less funny.
Whichever way you look at it, this has to be the worst Crown picture of all, and they made a lot of dross over the years. DEATHROW GAMESHOW paints picture of a mildly futuristic society in which the masses turn in to see contestants in life-or-death games. THE RUNNING MAN is clearly the film that's being ripped off here, but it's not even close to the quality of that cheesy Schwarzenegger action flick.
Instead DEATHROW GAMESHOW is a bore, devoid of laughs and incident. A number of prisoners take part in tasks they can't possibly win, and then the deaths are usually cut away from. This is bargain basement stuff, with appallingly over the top acting and not one ounce of wit in the script stakes. Yes, there's a little obvious satire, but when most of the laughs come from reaction shots of a fat guy eating spaghetti or the crude name-calling of the host then you know you're in trouble. This really is hopeless and I can think of few films worse or indeed less funny.
Badly executed.
BA_Harrison31 December 2019
TV host Chuck Toedan is harrassed by moral activist Gloria Sternvirgin (Robyn Blythe) and receives death threats from hitman Luigi Pappalardo (Beano), who isn't happy that mafia boss Spumoni (Mark Lasky) was an unlucky contestant on Toedan's controversial gameshow Live or Die.
The thing with black comedy is that, for it to work, it doesn't just have to be in dubious taste, it needs to be funny as well. That's where Deathrow Gameshow gets it wrong: the premise is delightfully deviant -- prisoners on death row are given a last chance by participating in a game show where the prize is either freedom or immediate execution - but the humour is puerile at best and performed by a largely untalented cast.
The film's star, John McCafferty, might look like a cross between Jim Carrey and Martin Short, but he hasn't a fraction of either's comedic timing, and his co-stars are equally as untalented, with a special shout-out to Beano, whose character is so repugnant that it's impossible to find him amusing.
The film's low-point is a crazy dream sequence that is presented like a movie (complete with credits), which is absolutely dreadful. The only good moments in the whole mess come from Debra Lamb as Toedan's glamorous assistant Shanna Shallow, who performs a striptease, and from Blythe, who briefly gets topless.
Released by Crown international, who also gave us the equally dire My Mum's a Werewolf, which was written by Deathrow Gameshow's writer/director Mark Pirro.
The thing with black comedy is that, for it to work, it doesn't just have to be in dubious taste, it needs to be funny as well. That's where Deathrow Gameshow gets it wrong: the premise is delightfully deviant -- prisoners on death row are given a last chance by participating in a game show where the prize is either freedom or immediate execution - but the humour is puerile at best and performed by a largely untalented cast.
The film's star, John McCafferty, might look like a cross between Jim Carrey and Martin Short, but he hasn't a fraction of either's comedic timing, and his co-stars are equally as untalented, with a special shout-out to Beano, whose character is so repugnant that it's impossible to find him amusing.
The film's low-point is a crazy dream sequence that is presented like a movie (complete with credits), which is absolutely dreadful. The only good moments in the whole mess come from Debra Lamb as Toedan's glamorous assistant Shanna Shallow, who performs a striptease, and from Blythe, who briefly gets topless.
Released by Crown international, who also gave us the equally dire My Mum's a Werewolf, which was written by Deathrow Gameshow's writer/director Mark Pirro.
Not Good. Bad, in a bad way, not a good way
jbar1915 November 2008
There just isn't enough here. There a few funny spots, but not really enough. I was very disappointed because I love stupid movies. I was expecting this to be a hidden gem. IT WAS NOT. It was a hidden turd.
The whole time I was watching it I was thinking, "Geez, I could do better than that and I'm a moron". Don't believe the few good reviews. I was suckered in by them. At no point did I laugh at loud. Maybe this was funny or cutting edge in 1987 but man, it fell flat today. This movie had promise, it just didn't deliver on it. Maybe if they rewrote it a few more times. I cant fault the actors. They weren't the best, but they just didn't have much with which to work. This movie failed because of threadbare writing. SORELY disappointed.
The whole time I was watching it I was thinking, "Geez, I could do better than that and I'm a moron". Don't believe the few good reviews. I was suckered in by them. At no point did I laugh at loud. Maybe this was funny or cutting edge in 1987 but man, it fell flat today. This movie had promise, it just didn't deliver on it. Maybe if they rewrote it a few more times. I cant fault the actors. They weren't the best, but they just didn't have much with which to work. This movie failed because of threadbare writing. SORELY disappointed.
I know its Stupid, but it's stupid funny.
andrew_edwards25 July 2000
Deathrow Gameshow will never win any awards, it will never reach a mainstream audience, and probably in the great scheme of things, it will be forgotten.
But in a way, it doesn't deserve its fate. Deathrow Gameshow is a funny movie. Granted, it isn't constantly hilarious, and it is downright stupid, but if you want to watch a movie just to have a good time, this is the movie for you. This film was made way before its time, with its style of humor more adjacent to There's Something About Mary or Kingpin then anything out of the 80's nice-nice comedies. Deathrow Gameshow for this reason will always be a classic. There is no other movie that I have ever seen that you can have more fun watching in a group setting.
The Plot deals with Chuck Toedan, the host of Live or Die, a show where death-row inmates are allowed to compete for their lives ***And some fabulous prizes!!!*** It seems that Chuck has finally had enough of hosting the show and dealing with death threats(he once killed a mob boss in a "very disrespectful manner.") The story is filled with hilarious dialogue both intentional and unintentional, and some inspired acting. Watch it if only for the dream sequence, which is one of the most hilarious and memorable scenes that I have ever seen. It gets 1/10 stars for intelligence, but 10/10 for humor, which is all that really matters. Enjoy, I always do.
But in a way, it doesn't deserve its fate. Deathrow Gameshow is a funny movie. Granted, it isn't constantly hilarious, and it is downright stupid, but if you want to watch a movie just to have a good time, this is the movie for you. This film was made way before its time, with its style of humor more adjacent to There's Something About Mary or Kingpin then anything out of the 80's nice-nice comedies. Deathrow Gameshow for this reason will always be a classic. There is no other movie that I have ever seen that you can have more fun watching in a group setting.
The Plot deals with Chuck Toedan, the host of Live or Die, a show where death-row inmates are allowed to compete for their lives ***And some fabulous prizes!!!*** It seems that Chuck has finally had enough of hosting the show and dealing with death threats(he once killed a mob boss in a "very disrespectful manner.") The story is filled with hilarious dialogue both intentional and unintentional, and some inspired acting. Watch it if only for the dream sequence, which is one of the most hilarious and memorable scenes that I have ever seen. It gets 1/10 stars for intelligence, but 10/10 for humor, which is all that really matters. Enjoy, I always do.
Absolutely Abysmal!!!!!
willandcharlenebrown8 November 2020
This was a horrible movie with bad acting. Bad special effects. Bad casting. Bad story line. Seriously a group of junior high school students could have pulled off a better movie. Utter garbage and waste of time! Might be in the bottom 3 movies over seen in my lifetime.
Not that many laughs
Wizard-813 August 2012
"Deathrow Gameshow" is an effort from writer and director Mark Pirro, a director known for making independent movies on extremely small budgets. It was the first movie of his that I saw, and after seeing it I have no desire to see any of his other movies. Oh, the movie is not totally devoid of laughs - there are four or five gags that I admit made me chuckle. But the rest of the movie is pretty painful to sit through. The obvious low budget is ridiculous, giving us shabby sets and production goofs like seeing the reflection of a member of the crew. But what really bothered me more than the shabby look of the enterprise was the screenplay. The idea of the movie is one that's best used as a skit, not a full length movie. It's clear that Pirro had a problem stretching things out, which means the movie moves extremely slowly. But worst of all, almost all the attempted humor falls flat. The movie is so lame and unfunny in its sense of humor that it's no wonder Crown-International Pictures barely released the movie to theaters.
A painful realization of a great concept
BandSAboutMovies29 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I hate Troma movies. I don't care who gets upset by that fact. They're puerile and poorly produced pieces of pablum. And if they were created to be real movies instead of with an eye to be goofy, I'd probably like them. I mean, I love Burial Ground, but I don't think anyone set out to make that movie as a meta-commentary on the state of horror. Other than the original The Toxic Avenger, I've disliked every film they've upchucked out. And sadly, I feel the same way about today's film (which isn't a Troma film, but sure feels like one).
At LA station KSIK, the top-rated show is John McCafferty's (no Beaver Brown Band) Live or Die. Condemned death row prisoners are given one last chance to entertain the masses before they get executed, as well as the chance to win prizes for their families. People love to watch it, but also love to tell McCafferty how much they hate the show (this was a surreal Matrix glitch deja vu moment watching this post The Gong Show Movie).
The problems start when the Spumoni crime family is offended when their boss is executed in a game where wires are hooked to his penis while a sexy girl dances for him. Only when McCaffrey touches the man's shoulder does he become erect and die. They send Luigi Pappalardo, the best hitman in the world, to kill the host. Things get worse when Luigi's mom wanders onto the set and is killed.
Note: Luigi is played by an actor named Beano. Yes, that is his name.
Meanwhile, our hero is in love with Gloria Sternvirgin, a member of Woman Against Anything Men Are For. She's against his show until she's in danger of being killed, of course.
Along the way, there are TV commercials and cutaways to other happenings at the TV station. This would work much better if the film were in the hands of a Paul Verhoeven (see Robocop or Starship Troopers). Or even Weird Al. But here, the cheapness and lack of talent - look, these are never usually bad things, but here they were grating - becomes apparent.
What also hurts the film is that it sets you up to see comical gore and then delivers it off camera. The only disgusting thing about this film is watching the hitman eat throughout.
Sorry you didn't win, Deathrow Gameshow. But hey, you don't go home empty-handed. You get some Turtle Wax!
At LA station KSIK, the top-rated show is John McCafferty's (no Beaver Brown Band) Live or Die. Condemned death row prisoners are given one last chance to entertain the masses before they get executed, as well as the chance to win prizes for their families. People love to watch it, but also love to tell McCafferty how much they hate the show (this was a surreal Matrix glitch deja vu moment watching this post The Gong Show Movie).
The problems start when the Spumoni crime family is offended when their boss is executed in a game where wires are hooked to his penis while a sexy girl dances for him. Only when McCaffrey touches the man's shoulder does he become erect and die. They send Luigi Pappalardo, the best hitman in the world, to kill the host. Things get worse when Luigi's mom wanders onto the set and is killed.
Note: Luigi is played by an actor named Beano. Yes, that is his name.
Meanwhile, our hero is in love with Gloria Sternvirgin, a member of Woman Against Anything Men Are For. She's against his show until she's in danger of being killed, of course.
Along the way, there are TV commercials and cutaways to other happenings at the TV station. This would work much better if the film were in the hands of a Paul Verhoeven (see Robocop or Starship Troopers). Or even Weird Al. But here, the cheapness and lack of talent - look, these are never usually bad things, but here they were grating - becomes apparent.
What also hurts the film is that it sets you up to see comical gore and then delivers it off camera. The only disgusting thing about this film is watching the hitman eat throughout.
Sorry you didn't win, Deathrow Gameshow. But hey, you don't go home empty-handed. You get some Turtle Wax!
Not exactly ripe for discovery, or rediscovery.
Hey_Sweden3 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Songwriter / musician / actor John McCafferty ('Texas') plays Chuck Toedan, the slimy host of a "Running Man" type TV show where condemned prisoners get a chance for freedom. But he had previously made a very bad mistake in having a mafia kingpin on his show, who ended up in a device triggered to execute him upon his getting an erection. Now, an overbearing mob henchman, Luigi Pappalardo (Beano, "Caged Fury") is determined to get some revenge on Chuck. Meanwhile, Chuck has incurred the wrath of a feminist journalist, Gloria Sternvirgin (Robin Blythe, 'The Brady Bunch Variety Hour').
Written and directed by Mark Pirro, "Deathrow Gameshow" clearly has the aim of being a cult dark comedy, but for every mildly decent laugh (this viewer would be lying if he said that he NEVER chuckled), there are a bunch of gags that land with a thud. To add to that, Pirro gives this thing almost no energy, and to say that it's cheesy might be an *under*-statement; it looks like it was filmed for about $1.95. The acting is almost universally insipid, but I did like Darwyn Carson ("True Confessions") as Chucks' secretary and B movie sex symbol Debra Lamb ("Beverly Hills Vamp") as the presenter Shanna Shallow, who never stops striking poses even when Luigi eventually takes over the show and imprisons much of the "talent" in a cage.
This could have been something to treasure had it been in better hands, but it really needed a better script and better direction. Nevertheless, it seems to have *some* sort of following.
Blythe rehashed her role in the movies "Rectuma" (2003) and "The Deceased Won't Desist!" (2021) (both also written & directed by Pirro).
Four out of 10.
Written and directed by Mark Pirro, "Deathrow Gameshow" clearly has the aim of being a cult dark comedy, but for every mildly decent laugh (this viewer would be lying if he said that he NEVER chuckled), there are a bunch of gags that land with a thud. To add to that, Pirro gives this thing almost no energy, and to say that it's cheesy might be an *under*-statement; it looks like it was filmed for about $1.95. The acting is almost universally insipid, but I did like Darwyn Carson ("True Confessions") as Chucks' secretary and B movie sex symbol Debra Lamb ("Beverly Hills Vamp") as the presenter Shanna Shallow, who never stops striking poses even when Luigi eventually takes over the show and imprisons much of the "talent" in a cage.
This could have been something to treasure had it been in better hands, but it really needed a better script and better direction. Nevertheless, it seems to have *some* sort of following.
Blythe rehashed her role in the movies "Rectuma" (2003) and "The Deceased Won't Desist!" (2021) (both also written & directed by Pirro).
Four out of 10.
An (almost) forgotten stupid classic
Sic Coyote15 August 2000
This movie is so stupid and it knows it is, and it's really funny, but not a lot of people know that. It may not win awards for it's production values or realistic acting but what it IS is damn funny! I mean where else do you find classic lines like "He's serving 65 & life for molesting a collie in front of a catholic school" or "If your head lands in the basket face up we'll give them $4,000!" answer, you don't! It's not big(production) it's not clever but it is so much fun. It's a bit like a troma release but with less of the gore (probably down to that stuff costs money) in fact I wish that troma owned it right now. My reason? Why because Troma's DVD output is fantastic when it comes to extras, but unfortunately Rhino(who is releasing this movie on dvd in america on the 10th of October for $10) has a very POOR reputation for disc quality and extras. I'm still going to buy it anyway because this is such a class movie.
cheesy...but i like cheesy. perfect for all around laughs.
mmanterfamily25 April 2004
if you are like me and like to watch movies to have fun and conversate with your friends, then watch this. its so ridiculous that you have to tell people about it. you MUST have a sense of humor to watch! great for a night of laughs. i have never seen anything like this movie before. i remember watching with my older brothers when i was little, it wasnt until i was older that i understood the humor. not the greatest actors, but what B rated movie has good actors anyways. some may be offended by it, but i personally think that this is one for many to see, and in these days everybody has this sick sense of humor that i have come to love. its one that you can watch over to catch all of the silly stupid parts. A++++
One of the greatest comedies ever on the top ten list
doyoulikeschlong13 October 2011
This movie is extremely funny. You can watch it tons of times over and over again and still laugh. It is included in the Mill Creek DVD box set, that has classic campy films from "Crown International Pictures," Don Papalardo is hilarious, the same actor plays Luigi's mother. Inmates from prison are sent to compete on a crazy game show. They are all technically sentenced to death, so it does not matter if they die on the game show. Lots of T and A. The loony guy that wants to get on the game show is a riot. Don't miss this classic 1980's masterpiece. I would love to see it shown on turner Classic Movies. I give this movie ten out of ten stars.
Vulgar, amateurish satire of tv
lor_22 March 2023
My review was written in December 1987 after a screening at Cine 42 on Manhattan's 42nd Street.
The generic concept behind "The Running Man" is recyclec to ill effect in "Deathrow Gameshow", an exercise in vulgar humor reminiscent but inferior to 1970s drive-in comedies.
John McCafferty is well cast (he supervised casting) as Chuck Toedan, toothy, ever-smiling host of the tv game show "Live or Die", in which, a la "Running Man", condemned convicts are given a chance to get a reprieve or gifts for their families. Executions are conducted on the taped show if they lose.
Filmmaker Mark Pirro knows talk is cheap, so there's plenty of it and not enough game show segments to keep the film lively. Mostly it's Toedan's private life, dealing with unruly fans or people who hate him and the show, particularly feminist Gloria Sternvirgin (Robin Blythe) and Mafia hit man Luig Pappalardo (the height in hissable vulgarity as played by Beano). Attempts at black humor are mainly silly, the film's only successful running gag being Debra Lamb's non-stop posing as the sexy prize presenter on the show.
Production values are on the level of a home movie and the cast is instructed to overact throughout. The one-joke premise is padded endlessly with a pointless dream sequence and very slowly rolling end credits.
The generic concept behind "The Running Man" is recyclec to ill effect in "Deathrow Gameshow", an exercise in vulgar humor reminiscent but inferior to 1970s drive-in comedies.
John McCafferty is well cast (he supervised casting) as Chuck Toedan, toothy, ever-smiling host of the tv game show "Live or Die", in which, a la "Running Man", condemned convicts are given a chance to get a reprieve or gifts for their families. Executions are conducted on the taped show if they lose.
Filmmaker Mark Pirro knows talk is cheap, so there's plenty of it and not enough game show segments to keep the film lively. Mostly it's Toedan's private life, dealing with unruly fans or people who hate him and the show, particularly feminist Gloria Sternvirgin (Robin Blythe) and Mafia hit man Luig Pappalardo (the height in hissable vulgarity as played by Beano). Attempts at black humor are mainly silly, the film's only successful running gag being Debra Lamb's non-stop posing as the sexy prize presenter on the show.
Production values are on the level of a home movie and the cast is instructed to overact throughout. The one-joke premise is padded endlessly with a pointless dream sequence and very slowly rolling end credits.
I have a good mind to call off the wedding
nogodnomasters25 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Chuck Toedan (John McCafferty) is the charismatic host on KSIK's hit show "Live or Die." Here death row inmates can win a chance for a reprieve or die on air. The show is controversial. There are those who protest it while others would kill to get on it. When Chuck kills a mafia boss in a humiliating fashion, this puts a price on his head leading to a comedy of errors that make things worse.
I really loved this film when it first came out nearly 30 years ago. It is indeed dated. Some of the humor involves the TV commercials of the era, such as American Express. These lose their humor. The show illustrates our compulsion with watching things in poor taste. However, now that the world is compelled to watch horribly scripted reality TV shows, how can we spoof this? The innovation of the film has been lost to other films that have created better satires of society. As such my 1987 5 star rating was depreciated to 3 1/2 stars.
Available on 50 "B" movie multi-pack.
F-word. Implied sex. Nudity (Robyn Blythe- plays same character Gloria Sternvirgin in 2003 "Rectuma", Debra Lamb, and Chainsaw Hooker Esther Elsie)
I really loved this film when it first came out nearly 30 years ago. It is indeed dated. Some of the humor involves the TV commercials of the era, such as American Express. These lose their humor. The show illustrates our compulsion with watching things in poor taste. However, now that the world is compelled to watch horribly scripted reality TV shows, how can we spoof this? The innovation of the film has been lost to other films that have created better satires of society. As such my 1987 5 star rating was depreciated to 3 1/2 stars.
Available on 50 "B" movie multi-pack.
F-word. Implied sex. Nudity (Robyn Blythe- plays same character Gloria Sternvirgin in 2003 "Rectuma", Debra Lamb, and Chainsaw Hooker Esther Elsie)
An amusingly lowbrow comedy hoot
Woodyanders23 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Chuck Toedan (cheerfully played to smarmy perfection by John McCafferty) hosts "Live or Die," a blithely twisted TV gameshow in which deathrow inmates are given a chance to either beat the executioner or at least win some nice prizes for their loved ones. Not surprisingly, Chuck has amassed a sizable number of enemies who include a bunch of bumbling Italian mobsters who want him dead. Will Chuck continue hosting his controversial program or will he see the error of his ways and call it quits before it's too late? Writer/director Mark Pirro milks the deliciously tasteless premise for every last shameless laugh he can get and joyfully wallows in an often uproarious sense of crude'n'stupid no-brainer black humor that's impossible to either resist or dislike. The game no-name cast attack their juicy broadly caricatured parts with infectiously lip-smacking enthusiasm: McCafferty revels in Chuck's sleazy charm, Robyn Blythe has a ball as uptight censor Gloria Sternvirgin, Beano almost steals the whole movie with his outrageously hammy portrayal of fierce, loutish, disgusting hit-man Luigi Pappalardo, Darwyn Carson makes a favorable impression as Chuck's perky secretary Trudy, and Paul Farbman nerds it up to a sidesplitting extreme as moronic wannabe contestant Dinko. Better still, Pirro offers a generous sprinkling of yummy female nudity: the luscious Esther Elise bares her beautiful body as an annoying fawning groupie and the delectable Debra Lamb as sexy hostess Shanna Shallow performs a sizzling striptease number. Craig Bassuk's fairly polished cinematography, the funky, syncopated theme song, and the bouncy score by Gregg Gross all further add to the considerable campy merriment of this absolute gut-busting dopey riot.
It's Different But Still Pretty Awful
Michael_Elliott8 October 2016
Deathrow Gameshow (1987)
1/2 (out of 4)
Chuck Toedan (Mohn McCafferty) is the host of a gameshow, which has deathrow inmates playing for money or an instant death. The game is set up like Let's Make a Deal where they are given options. One could end their life while the other might win their loved ones some money.
DEATHROW GAMESHOW, for some reason, gained a cult following but it's hard to see why. I mean, it did come out the same year as THE RUNNING MAN so perhaps VHS hounds just got excited to see something with a familiar storyline but done without much of a budget. The film could have been much better had it stuck to its main storyline but sadly the games end rather early and then we're left with a really awful and boring subplot dealing with the host coming under attack.
The film plays the majority of its games for laughs but they're just not very funny. The gore level of the games is also rather low due to the budget but I will at least give the filmmakers credit for at least trying to do something different. You've got the humor of the games but there are also fake commercials in the picture, which, again, aren't funny but at least it was something different. DEATHROW GAMESHOW gave it a shot but still came up with very little.
1/2 (out of 4)
Chuck Toedan (Mohn McCafferty) is the host of a gameshow, which has deathrow inmates playing for money or an instant death. The game is set up like Let's Make a Deal where they are given options. One could end their life while the other might win their loved ones some money.
DEATHROW GAMESHOW, for some reason, gained a cult following but it's hard to see why. I mean, it did come out the same year as THE RUNNING MAN so perhaps VHS hounds just got excited to see something with a familiar storyline but done without much of a budget. The film could have been much better had it stuck to its main storyline but sadly the games end rather early and then we're left with a really awful and boring subplot dealing with the host coming under attack.
The film plays the majority of its games for laughs but they're just not very funny. The gore level of the games is also rather low due to the budget but I will at least give the filmmakers credit for at least trying to do something different. You've got the humor of the games but there are also fake commercials in the picture, which, again, aren't funny but at least it was something different. DEATHROW GAMESHOW gave it a shot but still came up with very little.
Deathrow Gameshow (1987)
jonahstewartvaughan19 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Vinegar Syndrome Cuts 26
Deathrow Gameshow (1987)
(8/10):If Surf II was a so-so satire than this is great satire!
Deathrow Gameshow is a gleeful parody of how we as a society are obsessed with watching people die, like it's fun or something. Generally, the obsession comes from either a morbid curiosity or in the case of horror fans,it's more of a rush,a form of dopamine that comes with the excitement. This movie takes our obsession with watching death & makes it like a game of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune and glorifies it in such a carefree and gleefully dark way.
It's about a man named Chuck who runs a Game Show called Live or Die in which the contestants are pulled from Death Row and given an opportunity to play in a game show in front of a live studio audience to win their life.
He is getting many protests and one day a protestor bumped into him during an attempt on his life as he had a mob boss on the show and he ended up dying and he has people who want him dead because of it.
So now it's just him and this protestor trying to figure out a way out of this mess that they are in and the rest is just jokes.
The movie is incredibly cheesy and captures eighties game shows in their aesthetic down pretty well.
The humour is dark but still very cartoony with many exaggerated characters with big personalities.
The opening song is just great, it's so cheesy and it sets the tone for the movie very well.
I also found the humour actually landed a lot more often and it even made me laugh out loud at least a few times.
Overall, I had fun with it and it is a solid recommendation that I would give as it is low key, hilarious.
Deathrow Gameshow (1987)
(8/10):If Surf II was a so-so satire than this is great satire!
Deathrow Gameshow is a gleeful parody of how we as a society are obsessed with watching people die, like it's fun or something. Generally, the obsession comes from either a morbid curiosity or in the case of horror fans,it's more of a rush,a form of dopamine that comes with the excitement. This movie takes our obsession with watching death & makes it like a game of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune and glorifies it in such a carefree and gleefully dark way.
It's about a man named Chuck who runs a Game Show called Live or Die in which the contestants are pulled from Death Row and given an opportunity to play in a game show in front of a live studio audience to win their life.
He is getting many protests and one day a protestor bumped into him during an attempt on his life as he had a mob boss on the show and he ended up dying and he has people who want him dead because of it.
So now it's just him and this protestor trying to figure out a way out of this mess that they are in and the rest is just jokes.
The movie is incredibly cheesy and captures eighties game shows in their aesthetic down pretty well.
The humour is dark but still very cartoony with many exaggerated characters with big personalities.
The opening song is just great, it's so cheesy and it sets the tone for the movie very well.
I also found the humour actually landed a lot more often and it even made me laugh out loud at least a few times.
Overall, I had fun with it and it is a solid recommendation that I would give as it is low key, hilarious.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
