Roulette is a game that is all about luck – an element that is shared with, and greatly lends itself to, the narratives of many horror movies. So, let’s take a look at some of the most horrifying presentations of roulette in horror movies, taking the idea of chance to the extreme.
13 Tzameti (2005)
Over the years, there have been several different types of roulette for players to enjoy, with increasingly higher stakes. In Betfair Spin Till You Win, players try their hand at traditional European roulette through an online platform, but with a bonus twist. In this bonus round, players must, quite literally, spin until they win. In games like this, playing the game and, indeed, winning are seen as positives. However, in one iteration of roulette, the need to win is a matter of life and death.
In the French thriller 13 Tzameti, Sébastien enters an underground game of Russian roulette, the results of which are entirely random. This highlights the desperation within society and the lengths that people will go to for success outside of the norms and human moral codes. 13 Tzameti’s depiction of roulette is a haunting game of survival and the extreme representation of fate, fortune, and luck. The choice to make the movie in black and white and use long sections of silence add to the haunting aura of the narrative, making for an altogether chilling watch.
Saw VI (2009)
Source: Pixabay
The Saw franchise has long since been a favourite of horror fans. With Saw XI confirmed for 2025 release, this has led horror enthusiasts to reflect on the scariest games set out by Jigsaw over the last couple of decades. Perhaps one of the most infamous and creative of these comes from Saw VI, when health insurance executive William Easton is strapped to a spinning wheel for a deadly game of chance.
Alongside Easton, Jigsaw has captured six of his employees – one of which is portrayed by Wynonna Earp’s Melanie Scrofano. As the wheel spins, the executive must choose which of his employees on the wheel he’d like to save, but ultimately, the place in which the pointer lands is completely down to chance. This adds an extra layer to the concept of Russian roulette, as well as a hell of a lot more gore.
Would You Rather (2012)
Brittany Snow is probably best known for her romantic comedies and even more so for her run in the Pitch Perfect franchise. However, this psychological horror film is a remarkable change from Snow’s typical projects, playing a woman who will do anything (and we mean anything) to help her family. The film centres around a dinner party, where all the guests have something important they want to achieve.
The guests are tempted by money to make compromising choices that go against their principles. Starting small – such as a vegetarian eating meat – the game becomes more and more dangerous. Whilst this does not have a physical roulette wheel in the mix, the principles are the same as the classic table game – risk, luck, and the chance of reward. Do the players spin the wheel and take the risk? What exactly is at stake? Would You Rather is a complex and horrifying film that’ll make your hair stand on end.
As you can see, the rules, principles, and game of roulette itself provide an interesting narrative feature for horror movies and thrillers. By taking the gamble way above the norms of society, these films emphasise the randomness and unpredictability of luck.
Main image source: Pixabay
