The Killer’s Game: Review & Summary

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Plot Summary

For decades, Joe Flood has been one of the top assassins in the world under Zvi’s management. Together, their focus hasn’t been on any hit for hire, but killing the bad guys, and women, of the world. However, with Joe aging and meeting Maize, the thought of retiring comes to mind. However, retirement for people like Joe generally comes in the form of death and Joe wants to leave Maize with something besides good memories. So, upon being given months to love, and in order to have a life insurance policy that doesn’t warrant an investigation after his death, Joe has a hit put on himself only to find out his death sentence was misdiagnosed and the broker her chose, Antoinette, doesn’t wish to rescind it for she wants revenge.

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

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Highlights

Joe and Maize’s Chemistry

While Dave Bautista’s live action career has primarily seen him in action comedy roles, as shown by “Parachute” and “Knock at the Cabin,” he is building his legitimacy as an actor and appears to want more than to follow the path paved by the likes of Dwayne Johnson, or followed by John Cena. I’d submit, considering the romantic chemistry between himself and Sofia Boutella, being the lead of a romance could be in his future. For there is just something about the way Joe picks her up, Maize’s giddiness when around him, that pushes the idea that Bautista could continue to evolve as an actor and potentially do a romantic comedy, if not a straight up romance.

It’s A Fun Kind Of Violent

With bodies exploding, blood flying about with reckless abandon, and the use of various kinds of weapons, “The Killer’s Game” doesn’t take itself seriously and utilizes violence to push its humor in some ways. Be it Joe facing a flamenco dancer, who has spurs on his shoes or Maize using her skills as a ballerina to get in a few moments of action, whether it is hand to hand combat, guns, or grenades, “The Killer’s Game” keeps things light, breezy, and this helps to keep the pace up.

On The Fence

The Comedy

While you’re likely appreciate “The Killer’s Game” not taking itself seriously, the comedy on the other hand? More often than not it is corny. From Terry Crews having to play someone paired with a wannabe assassin who seemingly is just enamored by how cool everything looks, to weak jokes in the dialog, the humor isn’t unquestionably terrible but by no means is a selling point of the film.

However, I will say it does still land in the subjective realm.

Even At An Hour And 44 Minutes, It Can Feel Short

I wouldn’t say “The Killer’s Game” is a film that wishes to be heavy on world building and lore, but there is something about the world Joe Flood and Zvi operate in which does push you to want to know more and wish there was a bit more backstory. The narrative giving you that usual, “He’s at the end of his career when…” feels very real with “The Killer’s Game” and as you meet Antoinette, see Joe with Maize, and hear about how estranged he is from his biological family, it is hard to not want more.

I’d even say you may wish this was a mini-series, or even animated, to really allow all these characters to breathe and not feel rushed to be established, before many of them get killed.

The Gist

The TLDR Recap/ Review

1. Joe, like many assassins, only really has a relationship with his broker, Zvi, as he has no family and doesn’t make an effort to have a social life.
2. However, while fulfilling a contract, amongst the chaos of his escape he runs into Maize, a dancer, ballet specifically, who catches his eye and he develops feelings.
3. With having decades in the game and being a the top of his field, Joe sees Maize as a reason to retire, which isn’t an easy task but Zvi does want to help him.
4. But, with learning he has months to live, after suffering migraines and blurred vision, Joe decides to put a contract on his life and leave what savings he has to Maize.
5. Sadly, he was misdiagnosed and due to Zvi refusing to put out the contract, Joe went to Antoinette, who hates him, and refuses to rescind the contract once Joe learns he’ll live beyond his initial diagnosis.
6. When it comes to “The Killer’s Game,” it is not only in Dave Bautista’s wheelhouse but also shows his potential as a love interest due to his chemistry with Sofia Boutella.
7. I’d even say, as much as you will be entertained and value the violence of “The Killer’s Game,” the romance between the two might be more of a selling point for some.
8. But, with a lot of the film being paint by the numbers, humor which is very subjective, and the relationship that could be the hook not getting the time it needs nor deserves, while “The Killer’s Game” is decent, it feels like a streaming release that got a limited theatrical release for some reason.