Mazes and Monsters is a 1982 made-for-TV morality play that warns viewers against the dangers of participating in role-playing games, suggesting that the game form appeals to those with deep neurotic impulses. Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern, a group of college students indulge in the game called Mazes and Monsters, until one of their number, Robbie Wheeling, becomes unable to separate fantasy and reality, filling his head with voices and sending him off on a confusing quest related to the unsolved disappearance of his brother, years ago.
Heavy-handedly, the film attempts to identify the playing of role-playing games as a partial cause of Robbie's mental illness, though it is clearly established that his behaviour is part of a pre-existing pattern prior to the film. Additionally, it is equally established that Robbie's parents are self-motivated and unwilling to properly manage these earlier patterns, ending in Robbie being thrust irresponsibly into the same circumstances and stress-related environment that previously caused his earlier, unexplained break-down.
Continued on the blog, the Higher Path, available through my Patreon. Please support me with a $3 donation and gain the complete series of estate posts related to the post above, as these have all been written.
Mazes & Monsters is a far-out game. Swords... poison... spells... battles...maiming... killing!
ReplyDeleteHi Alexis, OrwellianHaggis here. I recently became a patron but can't yet access The Higher Path. Could you approve me please, if that's the right word?
ReplyDeleteOrwellianHaggis,
ReplyDeleteCheck your email under the account you used for Patreon. You should find an invitation there to join the blog.
Sent earlier, but sometimes it gets sent to the spam bin or otherwise lost in the ether. Email me at alexiss1@telus.net if you don't see it after getting this answer.
A bit late at this point, but the Higher Path link goes to the wrong blogpost over there.
ReplyDeleteFixed.
ReplyDelete