THE DEADLY GAME is a middling addition to the current wave of British crime thrillers. It has a large cast of interesting characters but also a rather murky storyline lacking in characters to root for. The scripting and directing are strictly pedestrian and the story is never quite as suspenseful as you'd wish for. The main thing it has going for it is an excellent cast of well-chosen actors. Toby Stephens plays a hitman with cold-faced relish. Rufus Sewell is a corrupt cop but nonetheless full of charisma throughout. Gabriel Byrne plays an imposing crime boss and there are more minor roles for James Frain, the underrated Julian Sands, Ralph Brown and Neil Maskell.