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The Next Reel • Season 14 • Series: People Hunting People • Series 7: The Contenders

Series 7: The Contenders

“I saw you on TV. I love you!”

A Reality TV Satire Takes on The Most Dangerous Game

Before The Hunger Games and the reality TV boom of the 2000s, writer-director Daniel Minahan conceived Series 7: The Contenders as a TV show in the mid-90s. After networks passed on the concept, he developed it into a feature film that would serve as a prescient satire of reality television and American gun culture. With a small budget and shooting on digital video to authentically capture the TV aesthetic of the era, Minahan crafted his dark vision of an alternate present where random citizens are forced to kill each other for entertainment. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up the People Hunting People series with a conversation about Series 7: The Contenders.

The Game Show Where Survival is Not Optional

This reality TV satire follows Dawn (Brooke Smith), a pregnant returning champion who must face off against five new contestants in a government-sanctioned show where ordinary citizens are selected by lottery to kill each other. The film’s commitment to never breaking its reality TV frame, from commercial breaks to behind-the-scenes footage, creates an eerily believable world that feels increasingly less satirical and more prophetic with each passing year.

Like any good reality show, the producers manipulate situations to create compelling narratives. The “random” selection of contestants conveniently includes Jeff, Dawn’s former high school friend and romantic interest, leading to an emotional subplot complete with a nostalgic music video they made together. This attention to creating drama through personal connections and backstories mirrors actual reality TV production techniques, making the deadly premise feel disturbingly plausible.

Production Choices and Performance Highlights

  • The authentic digital video cinematography perfectly captures the TV aesthetic of the era
  • Brooke Smith delivers a compelling performance as the pregnant returning champion
  • Will Arnett’s narration adds the perfect reality TV tone
  • The integration of surveillance footage and multiple camera perspectives enhances the realism
  • Strong supporting performances, particularly from Merritt Weaver as the youngest contestant
  • The film’s dark humor effectively balances entertainment with social commentary

While box office numbers were modest, Series 7: The Contenders has developed a cult following for its ahead-of-its-time commentary on reality television and violence as entertainment. The film’s examination of how media packaging can normalize extreme behavior remains relevant today, perhaps even more so than when it was released. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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