TL;DR – This is an ambitious film, and while I don’t think it ever reached that ambition, it was fascinating to watch.

Post-Credit Scene – There is a scene throughout the credits.

Disclosure – I was sent a screener of this film.

Arena Wars Review –

Today, we are looking at a difficult film to review because you get pulled in two different directions. On the one hand, as a critic, I need to review what is on the screen, but as a human being, you can also see the potential that could have been.

So, to set the film, it is 2045, and in The Big F##king City, there is only one way that convicted felons can get out: by appearing on Arena Wars, a TV show that everyone watches, well everyone used to watch. The convicts have to fight through seven different rooms with seven violent killers in them to be able to go free. The brand is on life support, and they need to win back the audience that is becoming bored of death. In the Rodimus Federal Prison in the Washington DC City State, Luke Bender (John Wells) is sitting with a 200-year sentence, covering for their superiors who stuffed up. But they need a hero for the arena, and Luke is in the wrong place at the wrong time.     

Conceptionally, there is a lot of strength here in the ideas behind Arena Wars, that idea that we would regress to ancient Rome and live for the blood sports of the arena. That combination is where you get the overlap between Squid Games and Death Race. What would TV Producers do for money, because we have seen the unethical practices that have been on show behind the scenes in some reality TV. If you add to this the over-the-top visual stylings of shows like Twisted Metal, then you have a fascinating basis for a film.

There are times when the film nails that energy. John Wells has the physicality that you need in a role like this. The costumes of all the killers could have been a touch wilder, but they work when they are required. We also get the level of abject debauchery that you need for a show like this to succeed. Which is when the chainsaws start roaring, and you know something wild is about to happen. Sometimes, they fall back and don’t go to the extremes that would make this a cult classic in a couple of years, but the intent is still there.   

However, there is one big issue with the film, and that comes down to one word: budget. What Arena Wars is missing is that level of polish that you need to remove your suspension of disbelief. For example, you never know just how important foley is to a film until it is not there or not there enough. The sound balance was off, which meant that you always felt as if you were in small sets and not the grand audiences that they were trying to pull off. Also, some of the acting just comes off as unintentionally flat. These are the things that make those vox populi sections work, but here, they just drag you out of the film.

In the end, do we recommend Arena Wars? There was a lot of potential here, and you can see that throughout the film. Unfortunately, it looks like there was a gap between what they wanted to do and what they were able to do. If you liked Arena Wars, we would recommend to you The Hunger Games.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Arena Wars?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Arena Wars
Directed by – Brandon Slagle
Story by – Michael Mahal & Sonny Mahal
Written by – Brandon Slagle
Music by – Scott Glasgow
Cinematography by – Michael Su
Edited by – Wayne Kent
Production/Distribution Companies – Mahal Empire Production, Mezek Films, Blaen-Y-Maes Bootleg Films, Wildlife Command Center & Alien Donut Films
Starring – John Wells, Michael Madsen, Eric Roberts, Robert LaSardo, Kevin Hager, BJ Mezek, Mercedes Peterson, Sheri Davis, Michael Beran, Robert Donavan, Kylie Fulmer, Wesley Cannon, Johnny Huang, Michelle Hill, Kyosuke Mukai, Dave Shecter, Leslie Brown, Tracy Obonna, Maria Bova, Edward Stachyra, Davi Cartaya, Allen Woodman & Jason Marcos Velez
Rating – Around an Australia: MA15+