Gamers, The
By John Oak Dalton • Jan 30th, 2003 • Category: Drama, ReviewsA group of emotionally stunted and socially backward college kids get into a marathon role-playing gaming session at a college dorm, much to the chagrin of a shrill co-ed down the hall. Soon the line between fantasy and reality begins to blur.
I first saw this at GenCon, the world’s largest role-playing/miniature gaming/card gaming convention, in Indianapolis this summer. Among a slew of fan films shown at the con, The Gamers seemed to have the most buzz and be the best-received by appreciative fans. Although definitely bound to get a warm reception from real-life “gamers,” even those who know a gamer, or even shunned them in high school or college, will enjoy the film.
This is because The Gamers has a sense of fun and energy about it, and a love for its subject. Great costumes and locations help add production value to the more modest makeup and FX, and overcome some microcinema pitfalls. The scenes which show the “fantasy” world away from the gaming table are especially well-crafted. Non-gamers may scratch their heads at some of the references, but there are plenty of laughs throughout and some kinetic action, and the collegiate-aged cast gives it their all.
The Gamers is an enjoyable outing for “gamers” and their friends and foes alike.
Three Stars
Running Time: 48 min.
Director: Matt Vancil
Writer: Matt Vancil
Score: ***
Web Site: Dead Gentlemen
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John Oak Dalton is a Community Television Station Manager by day, and a DIY acolyte by night. In the 80s he made Super-8 movies and his own basement mix tapes. In the 90s he hosted a cable-access show and made his own zines and minicomics. In the 21st Century he began working with grassroots video and microcinema and writing b-movies, and has more than a dozen projects on the shelf, on screen, in development, or in production.
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