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John McCafferty, Robyn Blythe, Beano, Darwyn Carson, Debra Lamb ... see more see more... , Paul Farbman , Robin Bluthe , Paul Bruno , Kent Butler , Mark Lasky , Stacey Katzin , David Martinson , Conrad Brooks , David Robinson , Howard Jackson

Low-budget filmmaker Mark Pirro (A Polish Vampire in Burbank) directed this satirical comedy which heavily echoes The Running Man. Unctuous emcee Chuck (John McCafferty) hosts a television gameshow ca... read more read more...lled Live or Die, in which convicted felons compete for the right to escape execution. As in most of Pirro's films, bathroom humor outweighs the occasionally clever parodies of popular culture. Debra Lamb and Conrad Brooks co-star. The director made Curse of the Queerwolf the same year. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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31% liked it

66 ratings

R, 1 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Mark Pirro

Release Date: December 4, 1987

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DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008

Stats: 11 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (11)

  • ajv2688
    October 14, 2011
    ajv2688
    This movie is darkly hilarious, over the top, and low on the budget, I really enjoyed it. Sure the idea of a gameshow for inmates is taken from The Running Man, but this movie is a lot funnier, and has a better feel for it's television spoofness. It's also straightforward and a... read more bit cheesy, but it works. If you like dark comedy, you should see this.
  • karenshaub
    October 29, 2009
    karenshaub
    I didn't even bother to watch the Shatner movie that accompanied this flick on my rental copy, I got this solely for the purpose of seeing low budget legend Mark Pirro's flick DEATHROW GAMESHOW. While its a much more polished effort (believe it or not) than his previous efforts, ... read moreits not nearly as much fun as either A POLISH VAMPIRE IN BURBANK or CURSE OF THE QUEERWOLF. Those little 8mm flix (transferred to 16mm) were great in their own, exuberant, undeniably childish way. GAMESHOW, while a great premise, suffers from its own ill advised version of maturity. It needed a heavier dose of adolescent goofiness to really make it work. The story? Chuck Toedan (John McCafferty)hosts the titular show on KSIK tv and its just what its sounds like; criminals sitting on deathrow sign waivers and compete for prizes, the possibility of parole, or just a memorable televised death--with the latter being the most likely. The show is very Springer-like in that it is both hated and loved passionately. Gloria Sternvirgin (Robyn Blythe)hates it and while expressing her disgust with the show she accidentally becomes involved with Chuck and hitman Luigi Pappalardo (Beano) who's out to kill Chuck in retribution for the embarrassing televised death of Mafia Boss Don Spumoni on GAMESHOW. Various degrees of hilarity ensue. If you give this flick a try stay through the credits because there's some cute stuff. Its not that bad an effort. And you've got to give writer/director Pirro props for anticipating reality tv.

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