Reindeer Games (Deception)

2000

Reindeer Games (Deception)

Critics Consensus

Despite a decent cast, subpar acting and a contrived plot disappointed reviewers.

25%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 88

27%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 43,111

Where to watch

Show all services

Other Movies

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Reindeer Games (Deception) Photos

View All Photos (6)

Movie Info

A burglar looking to make time with a beautiful woman after five years in prison falls into a dangerous trap in this action drama. Rudy (Ben Affleck) is serving time in prison for auto theft, where he becomes friendly with his cellmate Nick (James Frain). Nick has been enjoying a spicy courtship by mail with a woman named Ashley (Charlize Theron), who has sent him several enticing photos, even though he has been unable to send her any of himself. Rudy and Nick are to be released the same day, but Nick is killed in an altercation with only three days left to serve. Rudy is let out on schedule, and discovers Ashley, unaware that Nick is dead, is waiting for him. Swayed by her beauty, Rudy claims to be Nick, which turn out to be fun until Rudy meets Ashley's brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise). Gabriel runs with a group of outlaws planning on using Nick's knowledge of an Indian gambling casino in Michigan where he once worked in order to stage a massive robbery on Christmas Eve. Rudy soon realizes if keeps on being Nick, he gets to stay with Ashley, but he'll also have to go along with Gabriel's robbery, which could easily land him back in prison -- or get him killed. Clarence Williams III, Danny Trejo and Donal Logue play Gabriel's henchmen; Dennis Farina, Isaac Hayes, and Ashton Kutcher also highlight the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (for strong violence, language, and sexuality)
  • Genre:
    Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    John Frankenheimer
  • Written By:
    Ehren Kruger
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Dimension Films

Cast

Ben Affleck
as Rudy Duncan
Gary Sinise
as Gabriel
Charlize Theron
as Ashley
Dennis Farina
as Jack Bangs
Isaac Hayes
as Zook
Donal Logue
as Pug
James Frain
as Nick
Danny Trejo
as Jumpy
Ashton Kutcher
as College Kid
Dana Stubblefield
as The Alamo
Mark Acheson
as Mean Guard
Tom Heaton
as Ugly Staffer
Thomas Heaton
as Ugly Staffer
Michael Sunczyk
as Distant Inmate No. 1
Douglas H. Arthurs
as Distant Inmate No. 2
Dean Wray
as Guard No. 1
Clarence Williams III
as Merlin
Ron Sauve
as Guard No. 2
Ron Jeremy
as Prisoner No. 1
Hrothgar Mathews
as Exit Guard
Gordon Tootoosis
as Old Governor
Lee Jay Bamberry
as Young Governor
Frank Jones
as Security Boss
Jimmy Herman
as Bartender
John B. Destry
as Fat Guy
Ana Paul Piedade
as Portuguese Woman
John Destrey
as Fat Guy
Enuka Okuma
as Cocktail Waitress No. 1
Eva De Viveiros
as Cocktail Waitress No. 2
Joanna Piros
as TV Newscaster
Robyn Driscoll
as Desk Clerk
Lonny Chapman
as Old Timer
Alonso Oyarzun
as Casino Dealer
Hrothgar Matthews
as Exit Guard
Rod Wolfe
as Cashier No. 1
Marcus Hondro
as Cashier No. 2
Sam Bob
as Video Guard
Jacob Rupp
as Park Ranger No. 1
David Jacox
as Park Ranger No. 2
Anna Hagan
as Mother
Ken Camroux
as Father
Terry O'Sullivan
as Aunt Mary
Michael Puttonen
as Bill
Paula Shaw
as Aunt Lisbeth
Don S. Williams
as Uncle Ray
Michael Sunczk
as Distant Inmate #1
Jenafor Ryane
as Jill
James Hutson
as Mike
Wendy Noel
as Stacey
Blair Slater
as Sam
View All

News & Interviews for Reindeer Games (Deception)

20 Rotten Christmas Movies We Love
View All

Critic Reviews for Reindeer Games (Deception)

All Critics (88) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (66)

View All Critic Reviews (88)

Audience Reviews for Reindeer Games (Deception)

  • Apr 27, 2016
    Very underrated in my eyes, Ok the acting wasn't great but even though the story did get a little silly I enjoyed the twists and the whole idea of the story, The ending was good and the touch of humour worked well too, I can see why it didn't get as much praise as I thought but it's worth watching and is pretty entertaining.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Feb 28, 2015
    Really dumb...the acting is terrible, the plot is dumb, and the writing is awful. On top of that, this film drags like it's pulling a 2000 lb weight. Don't see this.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Dec 18, 2011
    "And sometimes you do Reindeer Games." Affleck may be the bomb in Phantoms, but he totally phones it in in the holiday thriller Reindeer Games. When Rudy Duncan's cellmate, Nick Cassidy, is killed two days before his release Rudy assumes his identity and hooks up with Nick's girlfriend, but he's soon kidnapped by her brother and forced to help him pull off a casino robbery. The film has a pretty solid cast (besides Ben Affleck) that includes Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron, Danny Trejo, and Dennis Farina. But the script is replete with problems; the dialog in particular is pretty bad. However, if you can get past the script issues and the weak acting, there's a fairly interesting heist story with some good twists and surprises. While Reindeer Games has its issues, it's entertaining and delivers some fun thrills.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 14, 2011
    Full Review Coming Soon!
    Chris B Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Reindeer Games (Deception) Quotes

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides