MovieChat Forums > The Other (1972) Discussion > The Game

The Game

posted 13 years ago by shayg
15 replies | jump to latest

Is The Game purely imagination, or a special ability? The crow instance could have just been imagination, but the disappearing magician is harder to explain, though he might have figured it out and imagined what he had figured out. He also predicted the gender of the baby, but he had a 1 in 2 chance of getting right by chance, so that's not proof that he has any special ability. I'm kind of leaning towards him having no special powers, and him being indulged in The Game has simply pushed his ability to imagine as if it were real so far that he believes it. This would fit better with the explanation that nothing supernatural was going on, simply extreme imagination.

I have to say, the scene where we are introduced to The Game is very unsettling. That really set the mood for the movie well. I loved how his grandmother talked of The Game; it really framed it as something almost unnatural.

[–] AStrangeOldMan 13 years ago

Tryon does his best to muddy up the exact nature of The Great Game, so that the supernatural possibility exists alongside the 'coincidental' one. When the boys use the power to discover 'what's in the box' - both times - it leans more towards the supernatural. I've always enjoyed that it's possible to find either explanation acceptable.

"No fate but what we make." -Terminator II

[–] OpaqueOne 13 years ago

There are different interpretations, but I always have broken it down like this. The game seems to be astral projection. From dictionary.com:

astral projection

n

Definition:

"the act of separating the astral body (spirit or consciousness) from the physical body and its journey into the universe

Example:

Astral Projection is the intentional act of having the spirit leave the body, whereas an out-of-body experience happens involuntarily (such as while dreaming, or in a near-death experience)."

There are many people who believe in, even claim to practice, astral projection, such as psychics, witches, warlocks, magicians, or simply people with special, unexplained abilities.

I believe the plot of this movie is purposely vague in certain areas so it leaves viewer interpretation open (a good thing). In my mind, (option 1) it hints at Niles' psychic ability when he decides to 'copy' the magician's magic trick and saws the lock on the cellar door, as he uses it to escape the fire later. It can be theorized (option 2) that this was all imagination, and the 'game' and 'trick' were not done out of special powers. There's even option 3--a little of both! I choose option 1, as most of us have some untapped abilities. I have had premonitions and psychic tendencies, so something eerie like the game is very believable to me. Either way, I think the ingenuity of the plot was very original and startling yet believable 40 years ago and still is today. Great film!

[–] ElectricWarlock 13 years ago

I assumed it was astral projection too. I interpreted as if Ada had a psychic ability and he inherited it genetically.

Come, fly the teeth of the wind. Share my wings.

[–] AStrangeOldMan 13 years ago

There's mention of an aunt who was 'in the hospital', which lays the groundwork for a FEW possible genetically inherited traits - one of those being insanity. I guess with the 'great gift' you also get a great 'burden'.

"No fate but what we make." -Terminator II

[–] jwalsh67 13 years ago

I believe 'The Great Game' was definitely a supernatural, psychic ability. Not only did it allow Niles to see through the eyes of a crow and a magician (and a dragonfly in the novel), it also gave him the power to mentally conjure up Holland as a living person. If it were mere imagination, in other words, if the image of Holland was just a figment of Niles' imagination, there would be no need for Niles to commit the murders--he could just pretend that Holland was still alive and talk to him every so often. Niles felt compelled to fully assume the evil personality of Holland in order to "solidify" his presence above ground, and 'The Great Game' made this possible.

In the novel, one of the most haunting memories the narrator (Niles) described was his first experience recreating Holland after he died. Ada saw how traumatized the young boy was looking down the well at his deceased brother, and she calmed him by holding him and whispering, "tell me what you see...". Ada's love was so strong that it forced her to resort to 'The Great Game' to spare her grandson a devastating loss. Unfortunately, it came with consequences.

He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

[–] yeoffthecat 12 years ago

I like your signature quote, however, the proper wording from the Bible is:
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

I was not attempting to be sarcastic or funny.

I live in a glass house, ergo, I throw no stones.

[–] jwalsh67 12 years ago

I appreciate your show of superlative biblical knowledge, however, my signature quote has been used by many others word-for-word. I am not smart enough to come up with such a quote on my own.

He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

[–] yeoffthecat 12 years ago

Thank you.

I live in a glass house, ergo, I throw no stones.

[–] IcySpoon 9 years ago

What an interesting and illuminating post. When I was growing up I could not watch this movie all the way through because it frightened me so! I finally watched through to the end today. I was saddened to read on IMDB that the boy who played, "Niles", Chris Udvarnoky passed away in 2006. He and his twin brother only acted in this one film-I thought they were very good.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." Norman Maclean

[–] SuCue 9 years ago

Good points, but I've always seen it as **Holland** playing The Great Game, from beyond the grave, to possess **Niles**. Otherwise it doesn't make sense; the game isn't about conjuring the dead, it's about possessing another living body. Niles can't possess Holland, because Holland is dead. Indeed, the only time Niles plays the game with Holland is when Ada forces him to use it to see Holland's coffin and grave.

[–] SuCue 9 years ago

Sorry, that was a reply above to j Walsh; somehow it got misplaced.

[–] tito-the-titan 11 years ago

is it some kind of hypnosis?

[–] AStrangeOldMan 11 years ago

It's presented as a psychic 'gift' that Alexandra's side of the family has, but it could very well be a symptom of some species of psychosis. Since Tryon leaves both possibilities open, it's up to the reader (viewer) to decide which it is. Since the 'power' allows the user to enter the consciousness of another, it also adds some chilling twists to the twins' relationship as it is occurring in the course of the story.

"No fate but what we make." -Terminator II

[–] patalbright2 10 years ago

I finally got to read the book slowly and over some time. It's like the movie in that the mystery of the boys remains undercover. However the film hardly touches on the history of mental illness of the Perry family. That is the sublime message through out the work.

Also, the genus of the story is how, at times, it is so difficult to read with all the nonsensical directions the plot takes. However, that in it's self ties it together with the mental illness, that is the main plot. Tryon and Mulligan, as one might suspect, had difficulty in putting this aspect on film. In other words you have got to be a little off your rocker to understand the plot.

Sanity, as they say, makes us somewhat smarter than we are stupid-life goes on. Watch the film again with this thought in mind-they read the book-and you can see how it comes together.

I tried to be Mulligan and looked at the screenplay and wonder how one could present this to a film audience, not only could I see how difficult it was, but the mental aspect tie in was the true brilliance of both men.

[–] dutchchocolatecake 9 years ago

"The Game" is supernatural.

Unfortunately, it works both ways. If someone can project their mind into another being, then ghosts can project themselves into that person.

That is how "Holland" was able to keep killing animals and eventually people. He possessed his brother who was still alive.