The Kill Room (2023) – Review and Summary
“The Kill Room” gives what is expected from Tarantino alumnus Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson in a forgettable but likable crime comedy.
General Information
| Director(s) | Nicol Paone |
| Screenplay By | Jonathan Jacobson |
| Based On | N/A |
| Date Released (In Theaters) | September 29, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Action, Comedy, Crime |
| Film Length | 1 Hour 38 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated R |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Gordon | Samuel L. Jackson |
| Patrice | Uma Thurman |
| Reggie | Joe Manganiello |
| Grace | Maya Hawke |
Content Rating Explanation
“The Kill Room” contains:
- Dialog: Cursing throughout and occasional racist moment
- Violence: Strangulation and blood
- Sexual Content: None
- Miscellaneous: Vomitting, drinking, drug use, and smoking
Film Summary
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Gordon, aka Black Dreidel, has a problem. He lost a very stable means of cleaning money and needs a new way of doing so. Luckily for him, a woman named Patrice owns a failing art gallery and has a drug problem. Her dealer talks about her, how much art sells, and Gordon realizes the easiest way to clean money would be through Patrice’s gallery. She isn’t receptive at first, but as her rival repeatedly embarrasses her, she gives in.
What she never could have guessed is that, alongside cleaning enough money to revitalize her gallery, the artist, Reggie, would become a hit. The kind that draws a bit too much attention and complicates Gordon, Patrice, and Reggie’s life to the point that Gordon’s employer decides to warn Patrice and Reggie, and they have to figure a way to get the upper hand or potentially lose their own.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Gordon
A Black Jewish man with a Bialy shop in Jersey, Gordon isn’t the boss of anything but the shop but has become so ingrained in a criminal organization that he has little input in that he treats his senior position like a supervisory one.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Spiral,” their role in “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” and their role in “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”
Patrice
The owner of an art gallery that has seen better days, Patrice is considered a has-been who squandered her opportunity to become bigger to stay small.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The War With Grandpa,” their role in “Down A Dark Hall,” and their role in “Stargirl 2: Hollywood Stargirl.”
Reggie
A good brother who got caught up in his sister’s nonsense and has been paying the price for years.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday,” their role in “Daybreak: Season 1, Episode 6 “5318008”,” and their role in “Love Death + Robots: Volume III.”
Grace
Patrice’s latest discovery who she struggles to sell the work of.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Stranger Things: Season 3.”
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Highlights
A Digestible Take On The Drama Of The Art World
While Patrice’s issues with her rival bring no laughs as the rival is written like a millennial hipster, there is humor to be appreciated regarding the art of selling something with no concrete value. The idea is that art should invoke a feeling, but, as Patrice shows, as she talks about Reggie’s work or that of Grace (who is barely in the film, by the way), it isn’t always about what the person sees, but the narrative pushed.
Reggie’s work is talked about as dark, innocent, and more, but as Patrice says, it is easy to push different ideas and feelings and even manipulate potential buyers, with only the concept of scarcity, if you know the artist’s story and how to sell it. Watching Patrice reel and deal allows Thurman to flex her muscles a bit, and while I wouldn’t say what she delivers is good enough to feel like the start of a renaissance for her career, it does remind you that it isn’t her talent but choice in roles that have led to her no longer being a reliable name on a movie poster.
It Utilizes Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman’s Reunion In A Way That Doesn’t Feel Exploitative And Honors What They Uniquely Bring At This Point In their Careers
Beyond starring in “Pulp Fiction” together, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman have had iconic careers. Yes, of the two, Samuel L. Jackson has been more consistent and financially successful, but both have something that has allowed them to be around for decades. Thurman, whose comedic career has been more bust than hit, can still drum up a laugh, and when she gets serious, we get a sense of what made “Kill Bill” a franchise people still want a third movie out of.
For truly, while both are in this film, you will see Thurman far more than Jackson, hence her getting her own highlight above. But that doesn’t mean Jackson doesn’t contribute. If anything, he delivers what is expected, including dropping a few “Mother*****s” here and there and being one of the coolest in the room, even when his character is losing it.
On The Fence
It Doesn’t Feel Like A Theatrical Release
“The Kill Room” feels like a Prime Video or Netflix release which hypes up two iconic stars reuniting and then having the two lack any notable scenes together. For as much as we enjoy what Thurman and Jackson give, as noted above, they don’t give you anything new. They aren’t dialing it in, but they aren’t dialing it up either. They deliver a classic persona, give what is expected, and ultimately, you’re left satisfied, but in the same way of eating for sustenance than taste or enjoyment.
Then, when they share a scene, it rarely moves beyond the two seemingly feeling each other out. Also as if they question what the other may bring, will it be a collaborative or a friendly challenge? Thus, this reunion, and potentially the first time they have shared a screen, flop a bit.
Who Is This For?
Those who like seeing films that mix crime and comedy will get a kick out of “The Kill Room.”
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