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Series 7: The Contenders (2001)

Series 7: The Contenders (2001)
Member Rating:  
The "reality TV" craze is taken to its final, logical extreme as six people hunt each other down in a small town for the benefit of network TV cameras in this darkly comic satire. "The Contenders" is a top-rated television game show in which six contestants are set loose in the same Connecticut community, with orders to kill or be killed; the last of the six who is still alive is declared the winner. As "The Contenders" goes into its seventh season, Dawn (Brooke Smith) is a two-time champion who is hoping to hold on to her title, despite the fact that she's due to have a baby in a month. Dawn's rivals this time out are Tony (Michael Kaycheck), an unemployed blue-collar worker with a taste for violence; Connie (Marylouise Burke), a middle-aged nurse who doesn't like to hurt people but is an experienced hand with a syringe; Lindsay (Merritt Wever), an 18-year-old dance student whose parents are eager to see her compete; Franklin (Richard Venture), an elderly conspiracy theorist with a tenuous hold on reality; and Jeff (Glenn Fitzgerald), who is dying of testicular cancer -- and was Dawn's boyfriend years ago. Series 7: The Contenders marked the directorial debut for Daniel Minahan, who previously employed pop culture and America's obsession with violence as themes in his screenplay for I Shot Andy Warhol. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Brooke SmithGlenn Fitzgerald, (more)
Director(s):
Daniel Minahan
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Series 7: The Contenders

The "reality TV" craze is taken to its final, logical extreme as six people hunt each other down in a small town for the benefit of network TV cameras in this darkly comic satire. "The Contenders" is a top-rated television game show in which six contestants are set loose in the same Connecticut community, with orders to kill or be killed; the last of the six who is still alive is declared the winner. As "The Contenders" goes into its seventh season, Dawn (Brooke Smith) is a two-time champion who is hoping to hold on to her title, despite the fact that she's due to have a baby in a month. Dawn's rivals this time out are Tony (Michael Kaycheck), an unemployed blue-collar worker with a taste for violence; Connie (Marylouise Burke), a middle-aged nurse who doesn't like to hurt people but is an experienced hand with a syringe; Lindsay (Merritt Wever), an 18-year-old dance student whose parents are eager to see her compete; Franklin (Richard Venture), an elderly conspiracy theorist with a tenuous hold on reality; and Jeff (Glenn Fitzgerald), who is dying of testicular cancer -- and was Dawn's boyfriend years ago. Series 7: The Contenders marked the directorial debut for Daniel Minahan, who previously employed pop culture and America's obsession with violence as themes in his screenplay for I Shot Andy Warhol. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
87 mins

Complete Cast of Series 7: The Contenders


Director(s):
Daniel Minahan
Writer(s):
Daniel Minahan
Producer(s):
Katie RoumelChristine VachonJason Kliot
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Profanity, Violence)
Categories:
Mystery & SuspenseComedy
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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    Kurt S.

    I enjoyed this take on how far reality television could go in the near future. Some of the crap that you see on the tube nowadays makes the premise of this film, a group of people are given weapons and told to hunt one another while being followed by a film crew, seem frighteningly plausible. After Jerry Springer and Survivor can this be far behind? Shot on video, the cast of unknowns give good performances and there are plenty of gruesome surprises and plot twists along the way that keep the movie moving along.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Jason L.

    It's a funny concept w/ some funny moments. A bunch of plot holes, and underdeveloped enough to leave you asking a bunch of "how" questions at the end..

    Yes   |   No

     
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