This is a sci-fi film set in the future where death-row convicts must be “gamers” and must play in a deadly game, where others control them. They agree to do this to fight for their freedom. Gerard Butler plays the lead character Kable. He only needs to win four more games to be set free. Simon (played by Logan Lerman) controls Kable. Simon is a teenager who is controlling Kable. Simon decides what Kable does in the game. Simon guides Kable to win. Now there are only three more wins necessary for Kable's goal of freedom.
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Ken Castle (played by Michael C. Hall) created the game. Castle first invented a game named Society where the players control real people, paid for participating. In the new game called “Slayers,” the players pay to control a death-row inmate who has agreed to sign-up for the game. If the inmate survives thirty games in a row, they gain their freedom. So far, nobody has achieved this goal. Kable is the closest with twenty-seven wins in a row. Even the Slayers game has governmental approval, and the death-row inmates have volunteered, there is a rebellion from a group called Humanz led by Humanz Brother (played by Ludacris).
In prison, Kable has one acquaintance, Freek (played by John Leguizamo) who wants to know why Kable is in prison. Kable remembers his wife playing the Society game, controlled by a disgusting guy and made to do offensive things with the other players. It is clear that Kable wants to see his wife again and free her from having to play the Society game. Soon it is time for the next Slayers game. As the players are taken to the game area, one of the other players, Sandra (played by Zoe Bell) talks with Kable. The guy controlling Kable, Simon, successfully steers him through the war zone. Sandra dies helping to save Kable granting him another win. We see that Simon is a rich brat playing the Slayers game with almost unlimited resources.
However; the game developer, Castle, decides to cheat. He introduces Hackman (played by Terry Crews) to the game. Hackman, unlike all the others, is not controlled by another person. Hackman is free to do as he pleases which gives him the advantage of having no delay in his actions against the other players, as compared to what is happening when the human players interact with the game. In the next game, Kable is surprised to learn, he can communicate directly with Simon. After Kable wins, he tells Simons that to win he needs to be free like Hackman.
During this time, Kable's wife desperately tries to get their daughter back who has been give up for adoption to a rich family. The Humanz group hacks into the communication between Simon and Kable. They convince Simon, Kable must be set free to win. In the final match, Kable wins but the broadcast of the show stops, so the public cannot see this. Kable escapes. Kable goes looking for his wife. He finds her with some sleaze-bag, attempting to rape her in the Society game. He kills the guy. The goons that work for Castle track Kable down. Kable gets away from them. Kable is intent on rescuing his daughter. Castle's plan is to control all humanity. When Kable has the final showdown with Castle, Simon helps him defeat him. Kable saves his wife, his daughter, and the world is set free from Castle's tyranny.
Best part of story, including ending:
This film is an interesting exploration about what might happen to society, if only one demented individual is in charge.
Best scene in story:
The best scene is when Kable first hears his controller Simon and can communicate with him because this changes the outcome of the game.
Opinion about the main character:
Simon changes from cold-blooded murderer, to sympathetic man fighting for his family. This is interesting because we want him to escape the game no matter whom he has to kill.
