The Starving Games

Last updated

The Starving Games
The Poster for The Starving Games.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jason Friedberg
Aaron Seltzer
Written byJason Friedberg
Aaron Seltzer
Produced by Peter Safran
Jason Friedberg
Aaron Seltzer
Starring
CinematographyShawn Maurer
Edited byPeck Prior
Music by Timothy Michael Wynn
Production
company
Distributed by Ketchup Entertainment
Release date
  • November 8, 2013 (2013-11-08) [1]
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4.99 million [2]
Box office$3.8 million [3]

The Starving Games is a 2013 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Peter Safran, Friedberg & Seltzer. The film parodies The Hunger Games and it stars Maiara Walsh, Cody Christian, Brant Daugherty, Lauren Bowles and Diedrich Bader. It is the first film in Friedberg and Seltzer's long-running partnership to be distributed independently. It was released simultaneously in theaters and video on demand by distribution start-up Ketchup Entertainment. The film was released on November 8, 2013 to negative reviews.

Contents

Plot

Kantmiss Evershot practices archery in the forest, but her boyfriend, Dale, surprises her; the arrow accidentally hits The Wizard of Oz. They return to District 12, where children afraid of getting picked for the Games deliberately injure and mutilate themselves to avoid selection. Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione are seen being forcibly removed from District 12. Kantmiss gives her younger sister, Petunia a golden pin with a "courageous bird" on it. The pin turns out to be a chicken, and Petunia then injures herself with it and crashes into a house. At the Gathering for the 75th Annual Starving Games, President Snowballs explains his reason for separating America into districts as well as ridiculous prizes for winning, including a half-eaten pickle. During the drawing for District 12's contestants, the hostess draws several gag names ("Hugh Janus", "Phil Mahooters", and "Dean Gulberry") to no avail. Petunia, has her name drawn, but manipulates Kantmiss into volunteering by crying fake tears, so she can eat Kantmiss' pet hamster if she doesn't return. Dale tries volunteering as well, but the town idiot, Peter Malarkey beats him to it. Kantmiss and Peter are taken to the Capitol, where they attend a televised interview in front of a live audience. Kantmiss wears a dress that catches on fire and burns her when she spins in it during her interview. Peter reveals in his interview he has a crush on Marco, a fellow contestant.

When the Games begin, Kantmiss grabs a backpack but must fight a fellow contestant for it. After being fatally struck by two knives and sawed in half with a weed whacker, the remaining half of this contestant eventually relinquishes the backpack before dying. Kantmiss tries fleeing, but Seleca, the Games' producer, sends Angry Birds to attack her; she defeats them and squashes the Annoying Orange in a Fruit Ninja parody. Peter teams up with a group of contestants led by Marco, who aim to kill Kantmiss. After discovering them, Kantmiss fails to climb up a tree, only to find a ladder up it. Marco tries to kill her with a spear but it kills one of his allies instead. While sitting in the tree, Kantmiss gets her face covered in bird poo after whistling to the birds. Marco and his allies flee when she attempts to make a beehive fall on them, cutting it loose using a chainsaw. Instead, the beehive falls on her own head and she gets severely stung. The venom causes her to hallucinate a quadruple rainbow and being a Na'vi. She is slapped back to her senses by fellow contestant Rudy; they team up, vowing to kill the other contestants first. After Kantmiss and Rudy discuss their plan, Marco and his group reveal they were eavesdropping the whole time (in plain sight a few feet away) and Kantmiss and Rudy flee. Kantmiss finds herself cornered by Marco and his allies, then quickly dispatches everyone except him. He pulls a knife on her, at which point a referee intervenes and begins the halftime show. After the halftime show is played, Marco again tries to kill Kantmiss, but Rudy kicks his shin. Marco then kills Rudy by drop-kicking her into a tree.

Wanting to spice up the Games, Snowballs decides to implement a lesbian love story, but learns Kantmiss is the only woman left; thus, only a straight romance is possible. After it is announced only a couple can win the games, Kantmiss tries to team up with Marco over Peter, but Seleca fakes being killed to convince her to find Peter instead. Kantmiss kills all of the contestants but Marco and Peter, and flees with the latter to a cave. As Peter starts to have a fever, he reveals that he has been stalking Kantmiss for most of her life. Since Kantmiss is keeping her distance from Peter, Seleca offers to send medical supplies to treat Peter if she gets more intimate with him. While becoming intimate, Gandalf and two dwarves appear in a Lord of the Rings parody, claiming to be drawn to the cave by the sound of incessant moaning. Kantmiss demands they leave and they oblige. Kantmiss has (censored) sex with Peter, which is televised. Dale is disgusted by this and storms the Starving Games arena, expressing his hatred for Peter.

The next day, Kantmiss and Peter attack Marco, but Snowballs orders Seleca to send in the Expendables. An armed Dale arrives, kills them, and asks Kantmiss to come back with him. When Kantmiss orders him to leave, he breaks up with her by changing his Facebook status to single. Marco holds Peter hostage, but Kantmiss shoots a loaf of bread into his eye, killing him. Seleca then announces there can only be one winner again. Peter tries convincing Kantmiss to commit suicide with him by ingesting poisonous berries, to deny those in charge the satisfaction of them fighting to the death. Instead, Kantmiss kills Peter with an arrow, telling him, “Shit ain’t personal”. Afterwards, Nick Fury and the Avengers show up, with Fury saying he wants Kantmiss to join the Avengers team as a replacement for Hawkeye. Then the Avengers all die after stepping off their platforms and onto mines.

Parodies

Films

Real life people

Games

Web series

Cast

Box office performance

The film grossed $3,889,688 in the international markets. [3]

Reception

The Starving Games received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 0% based on 9 reviews, with an average score of 1.60/10. [7]

Joe Leydon of Variety called it a "stillborn spoof" and "desperately unfunny". [4]

Scott Foy of Dread Central rated it 1.5 out of 5 stars:

"The printed word cannot fully express my dismay at having experienced this latest alleged comedy." [6]

Gabe Torio of Indiewire wrote that the film "is as terrible as you think it is". [5]

Max Nicholson of IGN called it "a horrible, horrible piece of cinema that needn't be watched by any person ever". [8]

Fred Topel of CraveOnline rated it 1.5 out of 10 and called it "more of the same, only worse". [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Scary Movie</i> 2000 film by Keenen Ivory Wayans

Scary Movie is a 2000 American slasher parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, alongside Buddy Johnson, Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Starring Jon Abrahams, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, Regina Hall, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, and Dave Sheridan, it follows a group of teenagers who accidentally hit a man with their car, dump his body in a lake, and swear to secrecy. A year later, someone wearing a Ghostface mask and robe begins hunting them one by one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petunia Pig</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Petunia Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros. She looks much like her significant other, Porky Pig, except that she wears a dress and has pigtailed black hair.

<i>High Anxiety</i> 1977 satirical comedy film by Mel Brooks

High Anxiety is a 1977 American satirical comedy film produced and directed by Mel Brooks, who also plays the lead. This is Brooks' first film as a producer and first speaking lead role. Veteran Brooks ensemble members Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, and Madeline Kahn are also featured. It is a parody of psychoanalysis and Alfred Hitchcock films.

<i>The Getaway</i> (1972 film) 1972 American action thriller film by Sam Peckinpah

The Getaway is a 1972 American action thriller film based on the 1958 novel by Jim Thompson. The film was directed by Sam Peckinpah, written by Walter Hill, and stars Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Ben Johnson, Al Lettieri and Sally Struthers. The plot follows imprisoned mastermind robber Carter "Doc" McCoy, whose wife Carol conspires for his release on the condition they rob a bank in Texas. A double-cross follows the crime, and the McCoys are forced to flee for Mexico with the police and criminals in hot pursuit.

<i>Scary Movie 3</i> 2003 film by David Zucker

Scary Movie 3 is a 2003 American parody film directed by David Zucker. It is the sequel to Scary Movie 2 and is the third film in the Scary Movie film series. The film parodies the horror, sci-fi, and mystery genres.

<i>Spy Hard</i> Film by Rick Friedberg

Spy Hard is a 1996 American spy parody film starring Leslie Nielsen and Nicollette Sheridan, parodying James Bond and other action films. The introduction to the film is sung by comedy artist "Weird Al" Yankovic, and it was the first film to be written by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who went on to write and direct parody films such as Date Movie, Disaster Movie, and Meet the Spartans. The film's title is a parody of Die Hard. The film was directed by Rick Friedberg who produced with Doug Draizin and Jeffrey Konvitz.

<i>Date Movie</i> 2006 American romantic parody film

Date Movie is a 2006 American romantic comedy parody film written by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, directed by Seltzer, and produced by Paul Schiff and Friedberg. It was released on February 17, 2006 by 20th Century Fox and stars Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Sophie Monk, Tony Cox, Jennifer Coolidge, Eddie Griffin, and Fred Willard. It is a parody of the romantic comedy film genre, and mostly references My Big Fat Greek Wedding,Meet the Fockers, Hitch, Legally Blonde, and Bridget Jones's Diary. Though reviews for it were more positive than Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer's later films, Date Movie was panned by critics but was a box office success, grossing almost $85 million on a $20 million budget.

<i>House of the Dead</i> (film) 2003 film by Uwe Boll

House of the Dead is a 2003 action horror film directed by Uwe Boll, from a screenplay by Dave Parker and Mark Altman. Based on The House of the Dead video game franchise, it stars Jonathan Cherry, Tyron Leitso, Clint Howard, Ona Grauer, Ellie Cornell, and Jürgen Prochnow. The film takes place on a fictional island infested by zombies, forcing survivors to fight their way off. Not a direct adaptation of the individual entries, Boll described the film as a prequel to the original 1996 game. House of the Dead was Boll's first film to be released theatrically, in addition to his first video game adaptation.

Crista Flanagan is an American actress, best known for her work as a cast member on the Fox sketch comedy series MADtv from 2005 to 2009, various roles in films made by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, and her recurring role as Lois Sadler on the AMC series Mad Men.

<i>Maximum Risk</i> 1996 American film

Maximum Risk is a 1996 American action thriller film directed by Hong Kong director Ringo Lam in his American directorial debut, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Natasha Henstridge. The plot follows French police detective Alain Moreau as he becomes entangled in an international conspiracy encompassing Russian gangsters and corrupt American officials, with various parties after his life because of his uncanny resemblance to a dead mob informant. His only ally appears to be his doppelganger's girlfriend, Alex Bartlett (Henstridge).

<i>Wrong Turn 2: Dead End</i> 2007 film by Joe Lynch

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is a 2007 slasher film directed by Joe Lynch and starring Erica Leerhsen, Henry Rollins and Texas Battle. An international co-production between the United States and Canada, it is a sequel to Wrong Turn (2003) and the second installment in the Wrong Turn film series. The film received a positive response from critics and remains the best-reviewed film in the franchise. It grossed $9.2 million in home video sales.

Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer are American and Canadian filmmakers. They have primarily worked on parody films, which they began writing and directing during the mid-2000s. Friedberg and Seltzer's first five films between 2006 and 2010 received wide theatrical releases to mostly commercial success, but universally negative reviews; their films Epic Movie (2007), Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie are considered among the worst ever made. Following Vampires Suck (2010), their subsequent releases in the 2010s garnered less attention, largely due to their limited theatrical distribution.

<i>Epic Movie</i> 2007 American parody film

Epic Movie is a 2007 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Paul Schiff. It stars Kal Penn, Adam Campbell, Jayma Mays, Jennifer Coolidge, Faune A. Chambers, Crispin Glover, Tony Cox, and Fred Willard. A parody of the epic film genre, the film mostly references The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pirates of the Caribbean, and X-Men.

<i>Best Night Ever</i> 2013 American film

Best Night Ever is a 2013 American found footage comedy film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Jason Blum, Friedberg and Seltzer. The film took place in Boston, Massachusetts and Las Vegas, Nevada.

<i>Meet the Spartans</i> 2008 film by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer

Meet the Spartans is a 2008 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. The film is mainly a parody of the 2006 film 300, although it also references many other films, TV shows, people and pop cultural events of the time, in a manner similar to previous films that Friedberg and Seltzer had been involved in such as Scary Movie, Date Movie and Epic Movie. The film stars Sean Maguire, Carmen Electra, Ken Davitian and Kevin Sorbo.

<i>Disaster Movie</i> 2008 American superhero comedy film

Disaster Movie is a 2008 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Peter Safran, Friedberg, and Seltzer. It stars Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, Gary "G Thang" Johnson, Crista Flanagan, Nicole Parker, Ike Barinholtz, Carmen Electra, Tony Cox, and Kim Kardashian in her feature film debut. It was released on August 29, 2008, by Lionsgate. The film is mainly a parody of the disaster film genre, although it also references many other films, TV shows, people, and pop culture events of the time.

<i>Vampires Suck</i> 2010 American vampire parody film

Vampires Suck is a 2010 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. It stars Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Christopher N. Riggi, Ken Jeong, Anneliese van der Pol, and Arielle Kebbel. The film is a parody of The Twilight Saga franchise. Like the previous Friedberg and Seltzer movies, the film was panned by critics for its humor and plot. 20th Century Fox theatrically released the film on August 18, 2010.

<i>Any Day Now</i> (2012 film) 2012 American drama film

Any Day Now is a 2012 American drama film directed by Travis Fine, who rewrote the original screenplay that George Arthur Bloom had written 30 years previously. Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt star as a gay couple who assume guardianship of a teenage boy who has Down syndrome, only to find themselves at odds with the biological mother and California's family law courts.

<i>Superfast!</i> 2015 American film

Superfast! is a 2015 American action comedy film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. The film is a parody of the Fast & Furious film series. It was released in theaters and VOD on April 3, 2015, to coincide with the premiere of Furious 7.

"The Winged Avenger" is the sixth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Nigel Green, Colin Jeavons, Jack MacGowran, and Neil Hallett. It was first broadcast in the Southern and Tyne Tees regions of the ITV network on Wednesday 15 February 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 18 February. The episode was written by Richard Harris, and directed by Gordon Flemyng & Peter Duffell.

References

  1. ↑ "The Starving Games: Exclusive Clip". CraveOnline . November 4, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "The Starving Games" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Starving Games". Box Office Mojo . IMDb. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Leydon, Joe (November 12, 2013). "Film Review: 'The Starving Games'". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Torio, Gabe (November 8, 2013). "Review: 'The Starving Games' Is As Terrible As You Think It Is". IndieWire . Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Foy, Scott (November 15, 2013). "Starving Games, The (2013)". Dread Central . Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Starving Games (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  8. ↑ Nicholson, Max (November 8, 2013). "The Starving Games Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ Topel, Fred (November 13, 2013). "Review: The Starving Games". CraveOnline . Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.