Mazes and Monsters
In 1979, James Dallas Egbert III vanished from Michigan State University. Newspaper stories claimed his disappearance linked to Dungeons and Dragons. Rona Jaffe read these reports and wrote a novel based on the speculation. William Dear investigated the real case later. He explained that media accounts exaggerated the role of fantasy games. The public received the story during uncertainty about new pastimes. Many readers treated the fiction as fact. In 1985, Thomas Radecki cited a letter from the book as proof of harm.
Tom Hanks starred in the film as Robbie Wheeling. This project marked his first leading acting role in cinema history. Chris Makepeace played Jay Brockway alongside him. Wendy Crewson appeared as Kate Finch. David Wysocki took the part of Daniel. Lloyd Bochner portrayed Hall. Peter Donat played Harold. Louise Sorel was Julia. Susan Strasberg played Meg. Anne Francis appeared as Ellie. Murray Hamilton was Lieutenant John Martini. Vera Miles played Cat. Chris Wiggins was King. Kevin Peter Hall acted as Gorvil. Steven Hilliard Stern directed the production.
Robbie Wheeling starts college at Grant University with friends who have personal problems. Jay-Jay feels marginalized by his mother who constantly redecorates his room. Kate suffers from failed relationships and her father leaving home. Daniel's parents reject his dream of becoming a video game designer. Robbie's alcoholic mother and strict father fight constantly while he is tormented by his missing brother Hall. The group plays Mazes and Monsters over which Robbie was kicked out of his last school when obsessed. They convince him to start playing again. Through the course, Robbie and Kate begin a romantic relationship. He confides that he still has nightmares about his missing brother. Jay-Jay decides to commit suicide in a local cavern but changes his mind. He kills off his character to force them to start a new campaign. He proposes playing in a disused and condemned cavern despite warnings. During spelunking, Robbie experiences a psychotic episode involving the last time he saw his brother. He hallucinates slaying a monster called a Gorvil. From this point forward, Robbie believes he is actually his character Pardieu. This leads him to break off his relationship with Kate to maintain celibacy. He starts drawing maps leading to a sacred place called the Great Hall. In his dream, the Great Hall tells him to go to the Two Towers. He disappears.
The film was adapted from Rona Jaffe's 1981 novel Mazes and Monsters. Many climax scenes were filmed inside the World Trade Center South Tower. The lobby of the tower appeared in October 1983 during filming. Steven Hilliard Stern directed the adaptation. Plumeria Pictures released a 40th-anniversary Blu-ray on the 19th of September 2022. This marked the film's first high-definition release. The movie has been available on VHS, DVD, and various streaming services since then.
The New York Times reviewed the film as an impressive TV movie based on Rona Jaffe's novel. They noted younger actors carried the film with remarkable skill under Steven H. Stern. The Los Angeles Times said it achieved a broader rites-of-passage experience than expected. At least one protagonist suffered from schizophrenia or an analogous condition. The public received the story amidst uncertainty regarding role-playing games. Thomas Radecki cited a fictitious letter from the book as proof that D&D caused deaths. Gaming magazines and trade press covered the controversy surrounding tabletop role-playing games in the early 1980s. The film contributed to moral panic about fantasy hobbies among parents and educators.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
Who starred in the 1982 television film Mazes and Monsters?
Tom Hanks starred as Robbie Wheeling in the 1982 television film Mazes and Monsters. Chris Makepeace played Jay Brockway alongside him, and Wendy Crewson appeared as Kate Finch.
When was the 40th anniversary Blu-ray of Mazes and Monsters released?
Plumeria Pictures released a 40th-anniversary Blu-ray on the 19th of September 2022. This marked the film's first high-definition release after availability on VHS, DVD, and various streaming services since then.
What real event inspired the plot of the 1982 film Mazes and Monsters?
The story originated from the 1979 disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III from Michigan State University. Newspaper stories claimed his disappearance linked to Dungeons and Dragons before Rona Jaffe wrote a novel based on the speculation.
Where were climax scenes for Mazes and Monsters filmed during 1983?
Many climax scenes were filmed inside the World Trade Center South Tower. The lobby of the tower appeared in October 1983 during filming.
Why did Thomas Radecki cite a letter from the book Mazes and Monsters?
Thomas Radecki cited a letter from the book as proof of harm caused by role-playing games. He used this fictitious letter to argue that D&D caused deaths during the early 1980s controversy.