"X Game" ("X Gêmu") could have been much more than it turned out to be. Why? Well, the movie had a tendency to drag on in long scenes that could have been shortened down by some more inventive editing. Plus, the storyline was fairly weak.

If you want to make a torture movie like this, and don't plan to play on a solid storyline, then at least make sure you have some cruel and grotesque torture scenes that will make the audience squirm, and not just some half-hearted attempts to do so. Which was sadly, what director Yôhei Fukuda had done here with "X Game". "X Game" seems like a light version and more audience-friendly version of the "Saw" movies.

The movie takes place mostly in a classroom with only four characters there along with two hooded wardens. As such, there was a lot resting on the shoulders of these four, and ultimately they didn't really manage to pull it off. It wasn't because of their particular performance, but because the movie was suffering from a bad script and storyline.

However, compared to the Japanese movie in the same genre, "DeathTube", then "X Game" fared much better. Both movies aren't particularly memorable or noteworthy, though.

And there were some awful errors in the movie. The worst one was the animations on the TV. How could the person behind the whole act possibly know which number of punishment was on the piece of paper drawn by one of the four contestants without showing it to the camera? But still, miraculously, the person knew and could play the appropriate animation on the TV. It was just ridiculous.

For a Japanese horror movie, then "X Game" is a low ranking entry to the genre, and compared to many other heavy-weighter's in the Japanese horror genre, then "X Game" is hardly worth the time or effort.

The ending to the movie, when you find out who is actually behind the things that happen, was actually nice, and does come as somewhat of a surprise. Which was far from predictable.

I wasn't impressed one bit by the movie, but still managed to sit through it all. I can honestly say that this movie will never make a second trip to my DVD player. It was had no value to support a second watching.

Like the other reviewer mentioned, don't get "X Game" confused with "Death Tube" because they are completely different movies. Also, "Death Tube" sucked while "X Game" was good.

Four young people are kidnapped and forced to torture one another. This is definitely a step above the typical torture film because it has properly developed characters, an engaging storyline that incorporates the theme of bullying, and also some good suspense. Even the torture game itself is interesting to watch because it's unpredictable and uses a variety of exaggerated bullying tactics. The script is fairly ambitious with a lot of ground to cover in its three-part structure. The final section is very twisty, but the twists make sense and maintain one's interest despite dragging the film out a bit. There are also a few creepy moments to enjoy.

'Mr Morino committed suicide' is what the opaque opening sequence is about. Hopefully this will resolve. Early on, Morino is just a sixth grade teacher. Also, part of a university lecture is shown discussing 'urban legends' about the bullied getting retribution against the former bullies. The stage is set at 10 minutes in. The question is, who is going to be thrust into the meat grinder?

Hideaki is an obvious jerk, and would be my lead candidate. Why his girlfriend, Rikako, puts up with him is hard to see. One finds out toward the end of the movie.

Takeshi and Tetsuya were leaders in the stylized bullying done in the sixth grade, and they get to join the festivities. Chie Koizumi was also a contributor.

After a bit more stage setting to justify vigilantism, these four wake up in a locked room. They are compelled by two large hooded people with powerful electric shock weapons to play the X game, as explained on tape by the dead Mr. Morino. There are 13 levels of punishment. At each turn, a victim and a perpetrator have to be picked. If the punishment is completed in under 3 minutes, the game goes to the next turn. If not, the loser gets to be branded with a large X, about four inches in diameter; the spokes close to an inch across.

This game was played in the sixth grade by the bullies; the main victim was a girl named Mariko Kaburagi. By one means or another, all the contestants are made to remember that fact. One of the final points of the film was made by the character Tadashi Ishimatu: the bullies all forgot about him, but he still has PTSD from the bullying. Not one of the four bullies even remembers him, much less what they did to him.

So, this is the vigilante justice mentioned academically in the beginning of the film.

How far does the vigilante justice succeed?

-------Scores--------

Cinematography: 9/10 Excellent in the well-lit scenes; reasonable in the dark ones.

Sound: 10/10 OK; fairly good on creepiness.

Acting: 7/10 Hirofumi Araki was rather good at being almost clueless to scared out of his wits. Some of the other performances were a bit wooden.

Screenplay: 8/10 Had a beginning, middle, and an end. The exposition of motivations was good.

------PS--------

Probably the saddest thing I saw about this film was the tone of the comments made on Netflix. About half of them had the same attitudes as the bullies mentioned above: that was ages ago, have you not forgotten? We were just having fun; what's wrong with you?