The Falcon Academy of Athletes is home to the top Olympic hopefuls in a range of categories. Gymnasts, swimmers and runners are all in competition to reach nationals, but an unknown maniac armed with a javelin is out to kill more than their Olympic dreams. Annie Rivers navigates the pressures of athletic perfection with high grades while maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend Phil. Their friends Lynn and Frank are supportive, but are in a similar position. Dr. Jordine is a bit too comfortable dispensing steroids and other supplements while Nurse Diane is a source of stability and reassurance to the students. Who is the masked psychopath and why do they hate these athletes so much? Can Annie survive long enough to answer these questions or are her dreams doomed to fail?

Fatal Games (aka The Killing Touch) came just in time for the 1984 Olympics, but quickly disappeared to the ranks of the video store shelf and relative obscurity. Michael Elliot makes his first and only trip to the director’s chair, but surrounds himself with talented people. Working from a script he co-wrote with cinema royalty Rafael Buñuel (To Kill a Stranger), son of famed director Luis Buñuel (An Andalusian Dog, Belle de Jour), and Christopher Mankiewicz (producer, A Perfect Murder), cousin of director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve, Guys & Dolls), the most familiar slasher elements are assembled for what should be a successful formula.

Elliot manages to create a somewhat original storyline that fits easily within the popular subgenre and does a competent job as a director. The mystery of who is responsible for the murders is effective and some of the kill scenes are suspenseful. There are obvious influences on this picture, from the pantheon of slashers ranging from Graduation Day to Happy Birthday to Me. Elliot even appears in front of the camera as the steroid-prescribing Dr. Jordine, and is actually a decent actor. Co-writer/producer Christopher Mankiewicz plays Coach Webber, with lesser acting chops.

Academy Award nominee Sally Kirkland (The Way We Were) stars as Nurse Diane, the only level-headed adult at the school. She is likeable enough in the role and genuinely seems to want what’s best for the student athletes. Lynn Banashek (Sam’s Son) plays Final Girl gymnast Annie Rivers, the most developed character, who balances school, sports and a relationship. Annie has a great scene with her father who wants her to improve her grades or consider leaving the school and sports all together. Sean Masterson (Wag the Dog) plays Annie’s boyfriend Phil, a decent enough guy who is an accomplished runner but tends to pressure her into moving in with him. The lovely Teal Roberts (Hardbodies) co-stars as Annie’s best friend Lynn, a champion swimmer. Michael O’Leary (Halloween Ends) plays Frank, Lynn’s boyfriend, who is equally tight with Phil and Annie.

By the time this picture was released in 1984, the traditional stalk-and-slash formula was growing stale and the release of A Nightmare on Elm Street that same year introduced the idea of “rubber reality”, which influenced the next wave of horror films. Fatal Games has its moments but is on the lower tier of slasher films. The Olympics angle is timely and fairly creative because of the potential victims in top physical form facing off against a masked killer. The picture saw most of its profits from the VHS era, but never appeared on disc until now. Sought after by gorehounds for years, the wait is finally over and, with lowered expectations, the film is enjoyable, but there are much better slashers to seek out.