The Killing Game
1973, Japanese. Directed by Yasuharu Hasebe.
A middle-aged office worker, Masao Okada (Eiji Okada), discovers that his worsening illness is terminal cancer. Shaken and resigned, he meets a mysterious man, Suzuki (Haruo Tanaka), who knows every detail of his life. Also a dying patient, Suzuki proposes a “game”: two men with little time left will live in suspense, wondering when and how the other might kill, using paranoia as a way to escape the greater fear of death. Directed by Yasuharu Hasebe and based on a story by Kyotaro Nishimura, this short TV film from "Horror Theater Unbalance" blends psychological dread with social reflection. Alongside Okada’s fragile romance with nurse Akiko (Masumi Harukawa), the story introduces a nihilistic subplot where a reckless young couple (Renji Ishibashi among them) engage in a fatal dare that ends in self-destruction — echoing the era’s sense of emptiness and contrasting Okada’s struggle to find meaning in the face of death.
- Runtime
- Unknown
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Killing Game
The Killing Game isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 22 January 1973.
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Part of a series
Horror Theater Unbalance: watch order
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 22 January 1973
- Original title
- 殺しのゲーム
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Bunzô Wakatsuki
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
Watch before The Killing Game
In release order. The films it follows, and anything it builds on.
After The Killing Game
What comes next in the series.
If you liked The Killing Game
Roadkill
2011 · 5.9/10
SnoozefestRecommended by TMDB viewers
Megaboa
2021 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
American Horror House
2012 · 5.9/10
SnoozefestRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Woman in Black
1989 · 6.9/10
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The Night Stalker
1972 · 6.9/10
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The Fair Haired Child
2006 · 5.8/10
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The Bad Seed
2018 · 7.0/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
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2006 · 6.2/10
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Imprint
2006 · 6.8/10
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2019 · 6.0/10
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The Killing Game: quick answers
What should I watch before The Killing Game?
Watch A Mummy’s Love (1973) and A Woman Who Warns of Death (1973) first.
What comes after The Killing Game?
Next in the series: Graveyard of Masks (1973), The Woman Who Calls for Corpses (1973), and The Woman Who Took the Local Paper (1973).
Is The Killing Game worth watching?
The Killing Game doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
Does The Killing Game have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Killing Game. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Killing Game parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Killing Game yet.
Which OTT platform is The Killing Game on?
The Killing Game isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 22 January 1973. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Killing Game?
If you liked The Killing Game, try Roadkill, Megaboa, American Horror House.
Who directed The Killing Game?
The Killing Game (1973) was directed by Yasuharu Hasebe and stars Eiji Okada, Haruo Tanaka, Masumi Harukawa.