Watch Mazes and Monsters, Ronna Jaffe's

Mazes and Monsters is an American television movie based on the bestselling novel by Rona Jaffe that was first published in 1981. It stars a young Tom Hanks in one of his earliest roles, before he became a household name, as well as Wendy Crewson, David Wallace, and Chris Makepeace. The film premiered in 1982, and its storyline has since gained cult status in the gaming and role-playing community.

The movie follows four college students: JJ (Hanks), Kate (Crewson), Daniel (Wallace), and Robbie (Makepeace), who are all avid gamers and role-players. Much of their free time is spent in the world of Mazes and Monsters, a Dungeons and Dragons-style game where players create their own characters and go on quests. JJ is particularly invested in the game and has created a character named Pardieu, a cleric who he identifies with very closely. He's a bit of an oddball, and his social anxiety has made it difficult for him to form connections with those around him.

The group decides to take their game into the real world and plan a weekend-long game in a closed-cavern area of a local park. They ask Kate to come along, but she's hesitant, as she's not as into the game as they are. Despite this, she agrees to come along and play the part of the princess who needs to be saved from the evil forces at play. The group sets up camp in the cavern and begins to play their game. For the first few hours, they're having a great time, but things take a dark turn when JJ begins to lose sight of reality and begins to believe that he is Pardieu.

The movie follows JJ's downward spiral as he becomes more and more consumed by his obsession with the game. His friends become increasingly worried about his mental health, but he brushes them off and insists that he's fine. As Pardieu, he becomes convinced that he needs to embark on a real-life quest to save the princess, believing that she's been kidnapped by real-life enemies. His friends try to intervene, but they're only seen as obstacles in his quest.

As the movie progresses, the line between reality and fantasy for JJ become completely blurred, and what began as an innocent weekend of role-playing turns into a dangerous game of life and death. The film explores themes of mental illness, the dangers of obsession, and the ways in which fantasy can become a dangerous escape from reality.

Mazes and Monsters is a gripping psychological thriller that showcases Tom Hank's acting abilities before his rise to worldwide acclaim. It offers an interesting take on role-playing games and the potential dangers of becoming too invested in a fantasy world. The story is intense, and the heavy themes make for an emotionally charged viewing experience. The costumes and sets are particularly notable, as they effectively capture the feeling of a medieval fantasy world, even if the special effects are noticeably dated.

Overall, Mazes and Monsters is a must-watch for anyone interested in gaming culture or the psychological effects of obsession. It's an intense film that delves into the darker side of imagination and the human psyche. It may be over 30 years old, but its messages are still relevant today, and it remains an essential viewing experience for anyone looking for a thought-provoking drama.