As TAG: The Assassination Game begins, the score over its first moments seems to suggest this is a horror film. Then a big laugh comes almost immediately on the reverse shot of a man standing in a hall holding a newspaper with two holes cut out for his eyes. It is such a delightfully ridiculous image, and coming out of what otherwise is a suspenseful sequence, that we can't help but laugh. In this sequence one man is pursuing another, and it isn't until the end of the sequence that we learn it is all part of a harmless game. Then there is a sort of play on the James Bond opening credits sequence, which is fun. When we are introduced to Susan Swayze (Linda Hamilton) after the credits, she is alone after dark, and all our horror movie experience would inform us that she is soon to be a victim. But when she pulls out a profile for "Jeff Shooster," we learn she is not just being chased, but is a hunter herself, Linda Hamilton clearly gaining experience she'll need later for the Terminator movies. And when she ends up hiding in the dorm room of Alex Marsh (Robert Carradine), there are some wonderful film noir aspects to the look and feel of the film. Alex, in that scene, is reading a copy of Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely, a nice touch. All these early moments help establish the tone and give us a pretty clear idea of what to expect from this film. And, yes, it might remind you a bit of another 1980s film, Gotcha!, but this one predates that movie by three years.
Alex Marsh writes for the college paper, and fancies himself a Raymond Chandler type. He decides to write a piece about the game, in large part as a way to get to know Susan. His first stop is at the office set aside for the game, its door letting us know these rooms are also used by the Chess Club, Jews For Jesus, and the Iranian Student Association, something that is wonderfully funny as well as being oddly accurate to my memories of the college experience, that every special interest deserved and got its own club. Anyway, the head of TAG is quite a character. Named Nick Carpenter (presumably after Nick Castle himself and John Carpenter), he is played by Frazer Smith, a Los Angeles radio personality who completely commits to the role and is actually a delight, going right up to the edge, but never quite going over the top. Interestingly, much of the humor comes from, and because of, the character Gersh, played by Bruce Abbott in his first film role. Gersh, touching on horror movie tropes, addresses another player: "Don't you know you're not supposed to take showers when people are trying to kill you? They always get it in the shower." Though this movie is not in the horror genre, it does like to play with some of the elements of horror, and with the expectations of a horror audience. When Gersh is surprisingly hit and "killed" in the game, he does not take it well. After smashing up stuff in his dorm room, he returns to confront the player that shot him (who is still in the shower for some reason), this time carrying a real gun.
Some people take games and sports much too seriously (hell, many universities take sports much too seriously), and can't handle losing. Their identities are too closely tied with a game, and such is the case with Gersh, who is the champion of TAG at his school. Even though he's a music student and composer, this game is where he puts his energy and his passion. And so he goes a little sideways when he is shot. What's interesting is that he realizes he's done wrong, and actually calls Nick Carpenter and confesses his crime. This, to me, is perhaps the funniest scene in the film because of Bruce Abbott's expressions while on the phone with Carpenter. Carpenter, not understanding Gersh's meaning, tells him, "Good work, Gersh, looks like you're on your way to another title." And he wishes Gersh, "Good luck." Gersh's expression as he says "Thanks" is perfect. He takes Carpenter's words as approval of his actions and encouragement to go on killing. Gersh is delightfully unhinged. And Carpenter's earlier admonishment to "clean up your act" takes on another meaning now.
But it is the relationship between Susan and Alex that it is at the heart of this film. Alex describes Susan as "tough, strong, hard," and likens her to Lauren Bacall. A little later, Susan does her best Bacall, saying to Alex, "You know to whistle, Marsh, just put your lips together and blow." Adding humor to the moment, a cleaning woman behind Alex whistles at him to get his attention, to get him to move out of her way. Both Robert Carradine and Linda Hamilton turn in wonderful performances, and those performances are the main reason the films works as well as it does.
Special Features
The Blu-ray includes a commentary track by writer/director Nick Castle and actor Robert Carradine, moderated by Sean Clark. Nick talks about being inspired by an article about a real campus game, and about how John Carpenter helped ensure that he would be able to direct the film. He mentions that Demi Moore, Daryl Hannah and Kirstie Alley were also considered for the role that ended up going to Linda Hamilton. Nick reveals that her character's last name was chosen after Patrick Swayze, and that the Wallace character was named after Tommy Wallace, a character in one of John Carpenter's movies. They talk about shooting at UCLA, and get into get into some detail about certain locations. They also talk about the great work of the movie's cinematographer, Willy Kurant. The Blu-ray also includes the theatrical trailer.
The Blu-ray edition of TAG: The Assassination Game was released on September 8, 2026 through Synapse Films.
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