Movie Review: ‘The Killer’s Game’

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The Killer’s Game could have been a great movie. It has an interesting (albeit recycled) premise, great actors, humorous comedy, and a sweet love story. There is very brief nudity and more gore than some horror movies, which could be a plus or minus depending on sensibilities. Some plots points are underdeveloped or unnecessary upon retrospection, but the main issue I really had while watching the movie was the ending. The ending felt very abrupt and rushed. But I still enjoyed it overall.

Assassin Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is ready to retire once he falls in love with a beautiful dancer, Maize (Sofia Boutella). After visiting a doctor and getting a terminal diagnosis (from possibly the slowest lab test results in the world), Joe decides to end his life by enlisting the services of a rival assassin (played by Pom Klementieff, one of Bautista’s co-stars from Guardians of the Galaxy) who has a personal grudge against him. However, just before the contract goes into effect, with a group of assassins already on their way to take out Joe, his doctor informs him that the lab switched the blood samples, and he is going to be fine (though he still doesn’t know why Joe had headaches and blurred vision). Due to the personal grudge, his rival refuses to call off the contract and sends multiple assassins and a group of mercenaries after Joe.

The fight/action scenes are probably the biggest draw (aside from the stars) based on the advertising I’ve seen, and I thought they were well made. There are plenty of fights, numerous bullets flying, and some explosions. It may not be on the same level as John Wick in either quality or quantity, but there is plenty for a casual action fan to enjoy.

The other main plot is the love story between Joe and Maize. It helps to raise the stakes some and provides somewhat of an emotional thread, though it takes an unnecessary turn that is almost immediately undone a few minutes later once the action really kicks into high gear. The “surprise” late in the movie is not at all surprising (I guessed it once Maize said “I have something to tell you”).

An interesting subplot is the assassins’ world. Instead of 1930’s style phone operators, these assassins use a modern-day app on their smartphones and there are competing business-like organizations. The assassins get at least a few moments of introduction before facing off against Joe, which made for fun visuals, while Terry Crews’s character gets his own hilarious mini movie alongside the main story. Most of these plots could have been more developed possibly even into their own movies, but they are ok blended together in one film.

I believe the movie is meant to be fun and not taken too seriously, and, in that regard, it is a success. I enjoyed it as I was watching it, though the more I think about it, the more potential plot holes I start to question. I was not thrilled with the ending because it seemed rushed to me. I won’t spoil what actually happens, but don’t go in expecting some big showdown between Drax and Mantis.