The Killer's Game

After starting a new relationship with a dancer (Sofia Boutella), a contract killer is diagnosed with a rapidly-deteriorating illness. Unwilling to go out that way, and unable to do the deed himself or convince a friend (Ben Kingsley) to help, Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) goes to an enemy (Pom Klementieff) and pays for his own murder. The twist comes when the doctor tells Joe there has been a mix-up and that he's actually not dying giving the killer a reason to live but no way to call off the hit.

Adapted from the novel of the same name, the plot of a misdiagnosed protagonist arranging his own murder has been done to death (so to speak) on both television and film several times over the years. While the plot may not be original, The Killer's Game does have style particularly in the introduction of the various quirky killers sent after Joe.

There's certainly fun to be had in Joe fighting for his life, although the film runs out of gas with about 15 minutes to spare, and far over the 90 sweet spot for B-movies like this, growing tired of finding interesting ways to introduce, and dispatch, the assassins and mercenaries sent after our protagonist.

Shying away from the humorous roles that have been so successful for him, Bautista carries the film as the straight man forced to react to the craziness around him. The on-screen chemistry with Boutella isn't great, but it's serviceable enough to sell the idea of Joe wanting to save her from the horrors of his profession and it's easy enough to root for Joe although the movie never manages to sell us that the end of the film is ever in doubt.

The supporting cast is where former stuntman turned director J.J. Perry has the most fun giving us the womanizing Lovedahl (Terry Crews), the dancing Botas (Marko Zaror), a pair of rough-speaking Scotsmen (Scott Adkins and Drew McIntyre), the deadly sexpots (Shaina West and Lucy Cork), a Korean gang led by Lee Hoon, and biker brothers who are the first to accept the contract. While most of these characters meet a quick and bloody end, it's unfortunate that the bland mercenary (Daniel Bernhardt) and his indistinguishable soldiers are the ones saved for the climax. Even so, for the right audience, there's definitely some fun to be had here, especially during the middle third of the film.

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• Title: The Killer's Game
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