"The Odds"

The usual trope of “this torture is part of a game” is not a new concept in film. Rarely is the concept centered around voluntary participation, though. “The Odds” revives this concept in a sexy, creepy, unnerving way. Starring James Fuertes (“The Bachelorette” Season 12) as the enigmatic Game Master & Abbi Butler, known only in the movie as “Player”, the two begin a strange game with the ultimate goal being one million dollars.

Set in one location (with the exception of one bathroom scene & one flashback), we begin by meeting The Player & The Game Master. The Player (Butler) is introduced as a down-on-their-luck mother with little to lose. She explains how she heard about the game, a game of pain endurance, and is confident she can conquer the increasingly tortuous tasks in an attempt to win the money pool & make a better life for herself.

The Game Master, played by Fuertes, explains the rules of the game: There are 20 players at various locations around the world, each round goes until 3 players quit, and at the final round there is only one winner, something which The Player acknowledges they knew beforehand. The only communication the player receives about the results is from the Game Master, setting up a strange relationship of disgust and trust between Butler & Fuertes.

As the movie progresses, the disposition of the Game Master changes enough to cause you whiplash. There are several moments where one sentence is uttered that shifts the whole mood, leaving the viewer to go “wait, what?”, but in a good way. The psychological side of the physical game comes to light, and you are left feeling as uneasy as The Player.

Though Butler’s character sometimes overplays the “tough chick” persona, she still delivers adequate shock during necessary points, amping up the believability. As her desperation & determination grows through the movie, this facade of being too badass to quit becomes more understood once you realize just what is at stake for her.

Fuertes is the shining star in this film. He will charm you, anger you, and scare you, all within 30 seconds of each other. Taking on several different personalities throughout the film, making one wonder just what the hell is this game!

With a respectable budget of approximately $250,000, it does well utilizing its main location & it’s two main characters. There is little need to see life outside this dreary basement. Though this has certain “Saw”-Esque elements involved, it’s by no means gore-pore. The blood is just enough to get the point across without being over the top.

The final act of the film is an excellent coup-de-grace. I’m usually not a fan of one scene being drawn out too long, but it worked well for “The Odds.” If the filmmakers' goal was to make the viewer as anxious as possible, they succeeded. Though some may criticize it for lack of character development, it truly is not necessary for this film. All you need to know is there are two definitely-not-sane people in a room, playing a game of pain. Who wins? Spare an hour and half of your night to find out.

“The Odds” is streaming for free on Tubi, as well as Amazon Prime (2020)