I recently watched The Name of the Game is Kill (1969) on the Full Moon app via Prime. The storyline follows a Hungarian refugee hitchhiking across Arizona who believes he's hit the jackpot when a beautiful woman picks him up, takes him home, and offers him food, clothing, a shower, and a bed to sleep in. However, the next day, he discovers the hidden motives of the girl and her sisters and realizes he may have gotten himself into more trouble than he bargained for.
Directed by Gunnar Hellström (Zorn), the film stars Jack Lord (Dr. No), Susan Strasberg (Scream of Fear), Collin Wilcox (To Kill a Mockingbird*), Tisha Sterling (Village of the Giants), and Mort Mills (Psycho).
This movie has a lot of elements I enjoyed. It's shot in that grainy grindhouse style that was in full swing during the late 60s, adding to its gritty atmosphere. The setup of the characters and circumstances is well-executed, and you genuinely want to know what will happen next. The acting is solid, with dialogue and interactions that feel realistic and authentic. While the kills are average and I wished for more gore, there's a bridge scene that genuinely shocked me and added a lot of fun to the film. The conclusion is a bit cliché, but it's still entertaining.
In conclusion, The Name of the Game is Kill is an entertaining thriller with solid characters and unique circumstances. I'd score it a 6.5/10 and recommend it primarily to die-hard grindhouse fans who enjoy movies like Spider Baby or FG lFaster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
