Series 7: The Contenders - R\nStarring: Brooke Smith\nDirected by: Daniel Minahan\nReality shows are getting crazier and riskier everyday by putting normal people in situations with dangerous animals or intense conditions like those in "Survivor" and "Fear Factor." These hazardous situations could in fact be of mortal harm, and that increases ratings, but when will networks stop? Will they halt these productions when someone dies or will they increase them? "Series 7: The Contenders" examines this issue with a look into the realistic game of life and death where the winner does not get money, they get to live.\nThe independent film is the combination of three episodes of the reality show called "The Contenders," where five people are picked at random to hunt each other down, and the last survivor becomes the ultimate "contender." Cameras follow their every move, and every kill, as the "stars" use their license to kill to stay alive.\nThe concept is great, but the acting and story is a little sketchy. This makes the film all the more realistic because these people are not supposed to be actors and the story is just life. At many times the film is slow but is still interesting. The film would have been much better as a series of shows, and -- even with the lackluster plot and acting -- it would become one of the most watched shows on TV. The show would obviously be faked and fixed, but it still would attract a lot of attention. It's just that watching three episodes in a row gets sort of tedious, just like watching an hour and a half of "The Real World" or "Temptation Island."\nThere are deleted scenes that do not add anything and a director's commentary that lets you into the world of independent film. Daniel Minahan talks mostly about all the changes he made, and had to make, for the film to be put on the screen. The film is a great concept, but the thing that hooks reality watchers is the addictiveness we get from identifying with the characters and going through the season with them. It's too hard to feel anything for the players from "Series 7" because with only three episodes it has just begun and ended before saying hello, but surely says goodbye to its characters.\n
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