British supernatural thriller that seems to want to be horror's answer to Primer. In other words, it bears rewatching or at least discussing before you can explain what you just saw. On the surface, Kill List is about two former soldiers of fortune, now hitmen, one of them married with a child and suffering from PTSD. They have a list of people to kill, all of which seem strangely happy to be murdered by the protagonist, and then things go completely loopy, with Pagan cultists in the woods racing after our guys and the whole thing ending on massive, disturbing irony. So what's really happening? That's the question. The film demands an answer from its audience, though I think no single answer needs be "correct", with plenty of leitmotifs, recurring images and lines, and strange behavior to support its mystery. For me, this is about a man who was something (Satan/Oberon/psychologically a killer), who lost himself, and created a new but ill-fitting identity (husband and father). Through "one last job", he is tested and forced to shed the trappings of this "false life" before taking his rightful place as whatever he used to be. It works in supernatural terms, but in psychological ones as well. I'd say theories that this is "all a dream" are a cop-out despite the "awakening" leitmotif, but if this dream works the same way magical realism does, then I agree to its legitimacy.
One of the craziest movies I've ever seen. I completely enjoyed it and will be adding it to my collection. My only complaint is everything that went unanswered but I think that's Wheatley's style after viewing A Field in England which was a lot more of a "what did I just watch?" than this film. I felt the length was perfect, cinematography and editing were excellent, the ending was insane and the characters were, in my opinion, very human and well casted. 8/10
In terms of story, it's quite similar to A Serbian Film, yet manages to be just as effective and unsettling as that movie without being unnecessarily extreme and gratuitous. I had heard all kinds of things about the film's memorable final act and I agree that it does make your skin crawl.
Watching Kill List is going to leave you with more questions than answers. It's bizarre, bloody and there's lots that doesn't seem to make sense. It is however an awesome movie and it's absolutely worth watching til the end. It's a totally different breed of horror film with an agenda to make you as unsettled as possible.
I've never heard of director Ben Wheatley but he seems to have a good idea of what makes a movie scary. I suppose that Kill List isn't scary per se when you're actually watching it. It's scary in the sense that you're going to remember it. The idea of it is scary and it's probably going to stay with me long after its welcome is worn out. I'm going to be very careful about not giving any spoilers because it'll ruin the experience for anyone who is planning on seeing this film.
Jay (Neil Maskell) is an ex-soldier coming off what was a disastrous mission in Kiev, Ukraine. Mentally he just isn't the same which worries and angers his wife Shel (MyAnna Buring). Things are tight at home though and both parents have to keep their son in mind. Shel talks Jay into getting an assassin job with one of his friends. Jay and Gal (Michael Smiley) set out to complete three marks that lead to stranger and stranger happenings.
Kill List isn't about ghosts or spirits or anything like that. Giving away that aspect of the story would ruin it and I'm too nice for that. See it for yourself and buckle up for what is a great slow burner. Ben Wheatley crafts an atmosphere that comes in shades of Stanley Kubrick. Everything seems to hide an ugly secret and the unsettling score just makes things worse. Even the editing has a similar effect. There are loads of jump cuts that skip things that would seem important. Wheatley is just keeping the viewer guessing and unable to get comfortable.
The make up and effects are very well done. The budget of this movie is $800,000 but it doesn't look it. With the quality of gore and guts that you see, you'd think this were a real Hollywood effort. It's important to note that Kill List isn't just a mindless gorefest though. The violence is realistic and it's justified too.
Kill List doesn't use the typical horror formula you'd expect. There aren't any cheap tactics like jump scares and really, it isn't a horror movie until the last quarter of the film. I'd call it just a creepy psychological thriller for the other three quarters. That's not to say that Kill List isn't scary though, it is! I'd describe the ending as being in a deep, pitch-black chasm without a hint of light anywhere. It's not a place you want to be.
If you like horror movies and you want to try something different, Kill List is the perfect answer. It's not a movie for everyone though. If you like your movies clean and tied up with a bow, this isn't what you're looking for. What Ben Wheatley has been able to piece together is amazing and I'm kind of dreading having to have Kill List in the back of my mind for the next few days while I'm trying to sleep.
That the excellent acting, tense and funny script, stylish editing and grimy cinematography are so good in this film makes it all the more unfortunate to have to say that all the incredible atmosphere and tension is thrown away by a derivative and clumsy story which falls apart in the final scenes. This is a brilliant film reduced to a fairly ordinary one by not knowing where to go with the superb tension it has generated. A real pity. All the reviews seem to have loved it - so I expect I'll be in the minority, but I was disappointed.
Oddly enough, I was kind of enjoying this film when it was just a slightly gritty slow-paced action film about a hit man.
As soon as
the freaky stuff in the woods
started happening, I immediately fell asleep (literally). Woke up, finished the film.
The acting was decent enough, but I found every character completely unlikable (with the occasional exception of
Michael Smiley's
).
When the film was over, the strongest feeling I was left with was extreme annoyance that
Jay
hadn't been killed.
The final plot twist wasn't exactly surprising; as soon as
Shel decided to go away, which didn't really serve any other purpose to the plot, it became fairly obvious she was involved somehow.
Characters you're fairly sure are involved but the protagonist isn't + sheets/masks = no brainer. The inclusion of the kid was less predictable, but not really all that shocking.
The score in the final act, while succeeding in creating a sense of discord and confusion (which is what I think was intended), made my ear drums want to curl up and bleed to death.
I'd certainly never go so far as to call it 'one of the worst films I've ever seen' (in fact, it's not even close to being on that list). I wouldn't even go so far as to call it a bad film. It's just boring, and forgettable, and not really worth spending 90 minutes of your life on.
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Comments 1 - 14 of 14
Siskoid
British supernatural thriller that seems to want to be horror's answer to Primer. In other words, it bears rewatching or at least discussing before you can explain what you just saw. On the surface, Kill List is about two former soldiers of fortune, now hitmen, one of them married with a child and suffering from PTSD. They have a list of people to kill, all of which seem strangely happy to be murdered by the protagonist, and then things go completely loopy, with Pagan cultists in the woods racing after our guys and the whole thing ending on massive, disturbing irony. So what's really happening? That's the question. The film demands an answer from its audience, though I think no single answer needs be "correct", with plenty of leitmotifs, recurring images and lines, and strange behavior to support its mystery. For me, this is about a man who was something (Satan/Oberon/psychologically a killer), who lost himself, and created a new but ill-fitting identity (husband and father). Through "one last job", he is tested and forced to shed the trappings of this "false life" before taking his rightful place as whatever he used to be. It works in supernatural terms, but in psychological ones as well. I'd say theories that this is "all a dream" are a cop-out despite the "awakening" leitmotif, but if this dream works the same way magical realism does, then I agree to its legitimacy.Earring72
Starts out really good with great setting and atmospere…...and than in the final act goes full WTF on you…...fonz
Even upon a rewatch, this film is haunting. Great atmosphere and tension building that really doesn't go where you expect.jeremydw
One of the craziest movies I've ever seen. I completely enjoyed it and will be adding it to my collection. My only complaint is everything that went unanswered but I think that's Wheatley's style after viewing A Field in England which was a lot more of a "what did I just watch?" than this film. I felt the length was perfect, cinematography and editing were excellent, the ending was insane and the characters were, in my opinion, very human and well casted. 8/10Ralf
In terms of story, it's quite similar to A Serbian Film, yet manages to be just as effective and unsettling as that movie without being unnecessarily extreme and gratuitous. I had heard all kinds of things about the film's memorable final act and I agree that it does make your skin crawl.RoastMutton10
Uncomfortable, yet so good.CinemaDump
Watching Kill List is going to leave you with more questions than answers. It's bizarre, bloody and there's lots that doesn't seem to make sense. It is however an awesome movie and it's absolutely worth watching til the end. It's a totally different breed of horror film with an agenda to make you as unsettled as possible.I've never heard of director Ben Wheatley but he seems to have a good idea of what makes a movie scary. I suppose that Kill List isn't scary per se when you're actually watching it. It's scary in the sense that you're going to remember it. The idea of it is scary and it's probably going to stay with me long after its welcome is worn out. I'm going to be very careful about not giving any spoilers because it'll ruin the experience for anyone who is planning on seeing this film.
Jay (Neil Maskell) is an ex-soldier coming off what was a disastrous mission in Kiev, Ukraine. Mentally he just isn't the same which worries and angers his wife Shel (MyAnna Buring). Things are tight at home though and both parents have to keep their son in mind. Shel talks Jay into getting an assassin job with one of his friends. Jay and Gal (Michael Smiley) set out to complete three marks that lead to stranger and stranger happenings.
Kill List isn't about ghosts or spirits or anything like that. Giving away that aspect of the story would ruin it and I'm too nice for that. See it for yourself and buckle up for what is a great slow burner. Ben Wheatley crafts an atmosphere that comes in shades of Stanley Kubrick. Everything seems to hide an ugly secret and the unsettling score just makes things worse. Even the editing has a similar effect. There are loads of jump cuts that skip things that would seem important. Wheatley is just keeping the viewer guessing and unable to get comfortable.
The make up and effects are very well done. The budget of this movie is $800,000 but it doesn't look it. With the quality of gore and guts that you see, you'd think this were a real Hollywood effort. It's important to note that Kill List isn't just a mindless gorefest though. The violence is realistic and it's justified too.
Kill List doesn't use the typical horror formula you'd expect. There aren't any cheap tactics like jump scares and really, it isn't a horror movie until the last quarter of the film. I'd call it just a creepy psychological thriller for the other three quarters. That's not to say that Kill List isn't scary though, it is! I'd describe the ending as being in a deep, pitch-black chasm without a hint of light anywhere. It's not a place you want to be.
If you like horror movies and you want to try something different, Kill List is the perfect answer. It's not a movie for everyone though. If you like your movies clean and tied up with a bow, this isn't what you're looking for. What Ben Wheatley has been able to piece together is amazing and I'm kind of dreading having to have Kill List in the back of my mind for the next few days while I'm trying to sleep.
7.5/10
mook
British hitman thriller combining gallows humour, tension and violence with an unpredictable plot. A unique must-see. 8/10.Follow me on Twitter @LastFilmSeen
swed
http://www.holymoly.com/film-dvd/blog/kill-list-what%E2%80%99s-it-all-about-then61097dombrewer
That the excellent acting, tense and funny script, stylish editing and grimy cinematography are so good in this film makes it all the more unfortunate to have to say that all the incredible atmosphere and tension is thrown away by a derivative and clumsy story which falls apart in the final scenes. This is a brilliant film reduced to a fairly ordinary one by not knowing where to go with the superb tension it has generated. A real pity. All the reviews seem to have loved it - so I expect I'll be in the minority, but I was disappointed.fjcaetano
What the fuck did I just saw? Tension? Good acting? Are you kidding me? It was a conjunction of nonsense.Aissi
Oddly enough, I was kind of enjoying this film when it was just a slightly gritty slow-paced action film about a hit man.As soon as
The acting was decent enough, but I found every character completely unlikable (with the occasional exception of
When the film was over, the strongest feeling I was left with was extreme annoyance that
The final plot twist wasn't exactly surprising; as soon as
Characters you're fairly sure are involved but the protagonist isn't + sheets/masks = no brainer. The inclusion of the kid was less predictable, but not really all that shocking.
The score in the final act, while succeeding in creating a sense of discord and confusion (which is what I think was intended), made my ear drums want to curl up and bleed to death.
I'd certainly never go so far as to call it 'one of the worst films I've ever seen' (in fact, it's not even close to being on that list). I wouldn't even go so far as to call it a bad film. It's just boring, and forgettable, and not really worth spending 90 minutes of your life on.
afan
Utter nonsense. Is there anything to take away from this film?MrCarmady
one of the worst films i've ever seen, shlocky tactics of the second half trying and failing to revive the dead corpse of faux-mike leigh first