Odd blend of comedy and thriller has a writer for a college paper, Alex Marsh(Robert Carradine)deciding to follow a student(in psychology, no less), Susan Swayze(Linda Hamilton)as she plays a popular game, TAG, where opponents are pitted against each other, on campus, with guns that shoot rubber darts. One of the players, Loren Gersh(Bruce Abbott, REANIMATOR), has been champion for four years running, and when actually "killed", he doesn't take defeat very well..something snaps and Gersh loads his gun with real bullets and starts actually killing those on his game's hit-list. Talk about a sore loser! Anyway, Susan is quite a skilled "assassin", and a threat to Gersh's reign so that puts her life in grave danger. Marsh falls in love with Susan and even helps her at times when she runs out of darts and her gun is useless. Once student bodies start going missing, Gersh begins a transformation, cleaning himself up, even wearing a suit and tie, and eventually Susan will be his next target.While not in it much, Kristine DeBell has some nice work as Hamilton's pal Nancy, unfortunately a fellow TAG player who winds up on Gersh's hit-list. This also features an early performance from "human sound effects machine" Michael Winslow who is fortunately on Susan's hit-list and spared the fate of those targeted by Gersh.Abbott is quite effective as the psychopath who never appears very stable to begin with, obsessed with the TAG game maybe because it's the only thing that gives his life meaning. Hamilton is stunning, the camera worshiping her as much as Carradine's reporter. I've always been a fan of Carradine's and this film doesn't change my opinion of him, chomping on a cigar, just head over heels(as I was)for Hamilton, his character is one of those unlikely Hitchcockian heroes who saves the day in the nick of time, just because his reporter stumbles upon a novel idea for a story based on his infatuation for a girl who entered his room to avoid being "shot" by an "assassin" at the beginning of the movie.I think the film benefits from this great cast, but, gosh, this premise is pretty disturbing if you think about it. For instance, there's that one scene where Gersh walks underneath the bleachers as his victim is watching a potential boyfriend preparing for his run on the track, shooting her as the coach fires his pistol for the boys to take off. The potency of the murders is the very fact that Gersh doesn't play fair and his victims never stand a chance. The main problem I imagine others will have with this film, besides the idea that college students could commit to their studies and play this demanding game, is that the outcome will not be a surprise. I think a movie hinges on the suspense of the premise, but I figure, if you were like me, no one will be convinced that Hamilton won't be rescued by Carradine. Still, I thought TAG:THE ASSASSINATION GAME was a nice surprise, because I had never heard of it. And, when I noticed that Carradine and Hamilton were both in it, as well as Abbott, I was more than excited to see what might come of it. Lots of nice homages to classic film noir, and the score is very bluesy, appropriate for what inspires Carradine(this includes a loving nod to TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT where Hamilton gets to run that famous line from Lauren Bacall and steals Carradine's heart in the process). I got a kick at how Carradine's eyes would go puppy-doggish, as if entranced by Hamilton, when around her..he wasn't the only one. From the director of THE LAST STARFIGHTER, and John Carpenter associate, Nick Castle.

Considering that every bad 80's slasher movie ever made seems to have a cult following these days (including, God help us all, the Sleepaway Camp trilogy), I find it highly ironic that a well-made, suspenseful, and entertaining film like this is now virtually forgotten. TAG has a great premise. It has some great b-movie talent including Robert Carradine, Bruce Abbot, erstwhile porn starlet Kristine DeBell, and a young Linda Hamilton. It was even directed by Nick Kastle, the man who played the Shape in the original Halloween. The problem with this movie, no doubt, was that, much like the original Halloween, it contained little blood and gore. After Friday the 13th in 1980 this was just not permissible (Halloween itself probably would have sunk like a stone had it been released five years later). So this great little movie is forgotten today while pointless dreck like Sleepaway Camp lingers like an unflushed turd in a poorly ventilated bathroom. There's just no justice in the world.

At a college campus the latest craze is a game where people are given targets to chase after with fake guns loaded with plastic darts. However, the reigning champion so upset over losing decides to use real bullets instead and continue on with the game. Fast paced film with an appealing cast and a fair amount of suspense, style and humor. Also proves tons of violence is not necessary to make a good horror / thriller.Rated PG; Violence.

Overall, I thought this movie was OK. Seeing Linda Hamilton in an early role was fun, as was the premise. This movie came out during the height of "assassination" games where you try to "eliminate" someone you've been assigned to, without that person knowing you're after him/her. Of course, someone is looking to eliminate you, too.If you want a fun movie to eat popcorn with, check this one out.