Watch Mazes and Monsters

"Mazes and Monsters" is an American made-for-television movie that was released in 1982. This film is directed by Steven Hilliard Stern and based upon the novel with the same title written by Rona Jaffe. The film is a narrative on the dangers of role-playing games, and it features Tom Hanks, who was in the early stages of his career at the time, in his first leading role.

The movie follows four college students, Robbie Wheeling (Tom Hanks), Daniel (David Wysocki), Kate (Wendy Crewson), and Jay Jay (Chris Makepeace), who are struggling to find their places in life. These students are fascinated by a complex and incredibly immersive fantasy role-playing game known as "Mazes and Monsters." They enjoy playing the game as it allows them to escape their problems and be whoever they want to be. However, things take a sudden turn for the worst when Robbie, suffering from some personal issues, begins to lose touch with reality, slipping further and further into his hero's persona.

After a tragic event that leads to Robbie's accident, the three remaining students are terrified that their game has gone too far. The remainder of the movie focuses on their efforts to bring Robbie back into the real world and make him see that "Mazes and Monsters" is just a game, and he needs help.

"Mazes and Monsters" is a thought-provoking and emotional story of how an obsession with a game can lead to troubled individuals losing their grip on reality. The film effectively illustrates how mental health and addiction can manifest through a group of young people's quest for identity and belonging.

The film's direction and cinematography are noteworthy, with the settings of the film being expertly crafted to create a haunting atmosphere that brings out the overwhelming sense of helplessness experienced by the characters. There are also potent and chilling moments throughout, such as when the students become consumed by the game, and it becomes apparent that they are unable to separate their fantasy from reality.

One of the highlights of the movie is Tom Hanks' portrayal of Robbie. The character is complex, and Hanks does a stunning job of portraying the different facets of Robbie's personality, from his playful and carefree moods to his confused and fragile states. Wendy Crewson, David Wysocki, and Chris Makepeace also deliver highly credible performances as the other students, and they each bring an element of depth and authenticity to the story.

In conclusion, "Mazes and Monsters" is a powerful and moving film that highlights the impact of mental health problems in a society that often tries to ignore or hide them. The film also makes a compelling case about the dangers of living in a fantasy world, and how an obsession with a game can lead to the tragic loss of life. Despite being more than 30 years old, this movie remains relevant today, and it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of addiction and mental health problems.

Mazes and Monsters is a 1982 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.1.