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Written by Sharon
Images borrowed from the Official $la$her$ Website

$la$her$ is a fine little Canadian flick about a Japanese gameshow. Made for $150,000, this movie goes all out and looks great doing it. It's in the same type of genre as 'Series 7: The Contenders' with people just trying to survive the game only in this case, the contestants signed up voluntarily. The object of the game is to get through what looks like a funhouse set and to try to avoid the actual killers stalking you throughout. The game is being broadcast to American tv for the first time with American contestants so the lovely hostess, Miho is dressed like the Statue of Liberty and speaks English. She first introduces the slashers themselves-Chainsaw Charlie, a more modern version of Leatherface only with a stranger mask. Charlie is very popular, even having fans with signs in the audience! There's also Preacherman, a very creepy looking guy who quotes scriptures and whose weapon is a knife with a crucifix-type handle. Then there's Dr. Ripper, another masked man with a big pair of shears.

There are 6 contestants: Devon, the buff black guy who seems to have all the answers; Megan, a girl who goes there to make a statement but finds herself just wanting to survive; Rebecca, a woman with a secret who wants to prove something to herself; Rick, who doesn't have much going on; Michael, a slightly camp guy whom you pray to get killed; and Brenda, a pretty woman who just wants to be an actress and figures this is her shot. Megan keeps being presented as a pretty young thing but really she looks like she's been sucking lemons. She's also supposed to be there to present a case to the people about the cruelty of this show but when she's nearly killed, she decides she just wants to live.

The actors all do a good job here and with the film being shot on video, it looks great! The funny thing is they really do present the show as a real game show with an intro that features other killers chasing Asian people. I thought that was a good touch. The only small complaint I have is they have bits where a slasher is about to attack a victim when the crew calls for a cut to a commercial so the action stops! Then they have to resume when they come back! Also in an interesting bit-the cameramen aren't allowed to interfere, even if the people need help! That's something you don't really consider-how is a cameraman supposed to just film you getting killed? What a job!

I got the dvd of $la$her$ which features a really interesting look at the making of the film and also a couple of interviews with Chainsaw Charlie. I guess Maurice Deveraux, the director-writer knew what a fun character Charlie is so he decided to do other skits with him. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Neil Napier played both roles of Charlie & Preacherman, you would never know! The cast is made up of unknowns, which helped lead credence to the game show idea. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the lovely Claudine Shiraishi, who played Miho. She was relentlessly upbeat and looked great, even while introducing the slashers themselves.
While it may not be an original idea, $la$her$ was a fun film and I'd definitely recommend it.