It’s funny how something you may not have thought about in decades comes flooding back when triggered. It could be a memory, a toy, or a song, but in this case, it’s a film. I spent a lot of time watching HBO as a kid, and one film I watched over and over was TAG: The Assassination Game (1982).
I couldn’t even begin to count how many times it aired on cable back in its infancy, but I was always there, ready to enjoy it. Then it was as if it had been scraped from my memory. Even when I became really into Nick Castle and his work, TAG slipped through the cracks. Thanks to Synapse Films, it’s available to revisit on Blu-ray, but does it live up to those childhood memories?
What begins as a harmless game of battle royale tag quickly turns into a deadly nightmare when a group of college students wages war with toy rubber-dart guns, where getting hit means you’re temporarily “dead.” Susan Swayze (Linda Hamilton) emerges as the unlikely champion, but the former winner, Loren Gersh (Bruce Abbott), has taken the game far too seriously.
When an embarrassing elimination pushes the socially awkward obsessive over the edge, he trades his toy weapon for the real thing and begins actually hunting his former opponents. Dressed like a deranged yet suave villain and armed with a growing body count, Gersh sets his sights on Susan.
It never goes the way of the era’s typical college comedy. Instead, it spends more time subtly parodying James Bond films. It’s a dark comedy that thrives on its concept and its cast.
RELATED: Laurin Blu-ray Review: Visual Vengeance Gives the 1989 Gothic Thriller Its Due
It’s already been noted that Bruce Abbott and Linda Hamilton star, but so do Robert Carradine (Revenge of the Nerds), Perry Lang (Eight Men Out), Kristine DeBell (The Big Brawl), Xander Berkley (The Walking Dead), Michael Winslow (Police Academy), and eventual Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker (The Crying Game), all delivering memorable performances and glimpses of their future brilliance.
TAG: The Assassination Game isn’t exactly loaded with special features, but it does include a highly entertaining commentary track featuring Nick Castle and Robert Carradine, moderated by Horror’s Hallowed Grounds host Sean Clark, as well as the original theatrical trailer. It’s a nice-looking scan of the 35mm camera negative, giving the VHS-era cult gem new life.
If you’re like me, you’ll find this somewhat forgotten piece of ’80s cinema exciting, fun, and a product of its time.
Support independent genre journalism. Horror Geek Life is powered by passionate writers, editors, and fans. If you enjoyed this article, you can help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee.
As an Amazon Associate, Horror Geek Life earns from qualifying purchases. Some links may be paid affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
