Darkgame Thriller Follows Familiar Premise

New Portland-set film features serial killer hosting deadly online game show

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:19pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The new thriller film "DarkGame" follows a similar premise to the 2008 movie "Untraceable", with a serial killer hosting a dark web "game show" where "contestants" are forced to participate in gruesome contests while viewers bet on the outcome. The film shifts between the investigation led by a brooding Portland cop and one of the kidnapped contestants, Katia, as she and others imprisoned with her wait for the right moment to fight back and escape.

Why it matters

While not particularly original, "DarkGame" is a fast-paced thriller that manages to create genuine tension, thanks in part to a compelling and cryptically funny antagonist. The film's setting in Portland, Oregon also mirrors the location of the 2008 thriller "Untraceable", highlighting the city's history as a backdrop for dark, suspenseful stories.

The details

In "DarkGame", the unnamed antagonist (played by Andrew P. Stephen) hosts a dark web game show called "Russian Roulette" where "contestants" are forced to participate in various gruesome contests while viewers bet on the outcome. The highest wagerer gets to choose how the loser will die. Meanwhile, Portland cop Ben (Ed Westwick) and his squad desperately try to trace the killer's location and stop him, which proves very difficult. Once the killer learns Ben is heading the investigation, he makes things personal.

  • The film "Untraceable", which featured a similar premise, was released in 2008.

The players

Andrew P. Stephen

The actor who portrays the unnamed antagonist, the host of the dark web "game show" in "DarkGame".

Ed Westwick

The actor who plays the brooding Portland cop Ben, leading the investigation to stop the killer in "DarkGame".

Natalya Tsvetkova

The actress who plays Katia, one of the kidnapped contestants imprisoned and waiting to fight back and escape in "DarkGame".

Howard J. Ford

The director of "DarkGame", known for making well-made and entertaining thrillers, even if they lack originality.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“While no classic, I thought the film was better than its box office numbers and critical consensus suggested.”

— D.M. Anderson, Author

“The unnamed antagonist (Andrew P. Stephen) is certainly sadistic, though. Never seen without a mask, he hosts a dark web 'game show' called Russian Roulette, where 'contestants' are forced to participate in various gruesome contests while viewers bet on the outcome.”

— D.M. Anderson, Author

What’s next

The film's ending leaves the door open for a sequel, which the author suggests they wouldn't be opposed to.

The takeaway

While "DarkGame" follows a familiar premise, its fast-paced storytelling, compelling antagonist, and Portland setting make it a decent thriller that entertains in the moment, even if it lacks originality.