Death Game (1977)

by Mark Murton

Also Known As: The Seducers

Directed by: Peter S. Traynor

This review contains a Kitty Carnage Warning!

Cat Out Of The Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film.

Synopsis: An affluent San Francisco businessman, George Manning (Seymour Cassell), alone in his house when his wife Karen (Beth Brickell) is called away to a family emergency, finds himself at the mercy of two violent, deranged young women, Jackson (Sondra Locke) and Donna (Colleen Camp), after he invites them in during a thunderstorm.

Cartoon Cat: The first cat is a child’s drawing during the opening titles.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The first proper cat appearance is during the first scene when George and his wife play croquet in their garden as the cat relaxes against a nearby tree.

Death Game - white cat Tiki under tree as George Seymour Cassell and Karen Beth Brickell play croquet

Death Game - white cat Tiki on lead on lawn

During the game we learn the cat is called Tiki.

Death Game - white cat Tiki under deck chair

Death Game - white cat Tiki with croquet ball rolling by

Death Game - white cat Tiki watching croquet ball roll by animated gif

Tiki seems to have been forgotten once the girls gain entry to the house and set about tormenting George. But after George eventually convinces them to leave he returns home to find they’ve regained entry. Tiki is now seen asleep on the sofa near Jackson (perhaps he was waiting to be let in when the girls came back?) as the girls stage a mock trial of George.

Death Game - white cat Tiki sleeping on couch behind Jackson Sandra Locke

Death Game - white cat Tiki sitting on couch behind Jackson Sandra Locke

When “Judge” Jackson calls Donna to tell the “court” what happened, Donna picks up Tiki and holds him close while giving her “evidence”.

Death Game - white cat Tiki held by Donna Colleen Camp with Jackson Sandra Locke

Death Game - white cat Tiki held by Donna Colleen Camp

At one point she smiles manically in George’s direction before returning to cradling Tiki gently in her arms.

When they retire to consider their verdict Donna takes Tiki with her.

Death Game - white cat Tiki being picked up by Donna Colleen Camp

Returning to the room they declare George “Guilty as Charged”, decreeing he must die at dawn and using a large egg timer to count down the time. Donna continues to parade around with Tiki, at one point showing him his reflection in a mirror.

Death Game - white cat Tiki held by Donna Colleen Camp by mirror

Kitty Carnage Warning! With five hours to go Donna, still holding Tiki, turns the timer and then starts to spin around on the spot before launching Tiki into the air . . .

Death Game - white cat Tiki being spun around by Donna Colleen Camp

. . . toward a window which he smashes through to his death. Fortunately the shot of the cat breaking through the window looks nothing like Tiki and in fact does not look much like a real cat.