Review of Essential Killing (2010) by Gabriel K — 22 Oct 2010

Proceeding his overdue return to filmmaking after a 20-year break, Jerzy Skolimowski follows his dark platonic love story, Four Nights With Anna with this merciless artistic actioner. Essential Killing centers on a Taliban fighter (Vincent Gallo) who in the first scene turns his rocket launcher on the U.

S. Army wisecrackers. After his capture and eventual relegation to Central Europe, he quite miraculously manages to escape. Given that it's freezing cold and many police officers are after him, it won't be easy to stay alive.

Most of all, Essential Killing is about the determination to survive at all costs taking murderous consequences into account (hence the title). That's why the movie is so subversively humane and controversial at the same time.

Skolimowski shows an excellent command of his craft blending sheer artistry in frame composition with truly memorable, often symbolic images. Apart from effectively photographed gelid locations, he is not afraid to employ some doses of pitch-black humor that result in the best scenes in the film.

Vincent Gallo in the central wordless role is also quite amazing delivering a purely physical performance that has its share of both wariness and despair. For all its unquestionable positives, the movie, clocking in 83 minutes, is rather short lacking in a sufficiently powerful climax.

Nonetheless, Essential Killing is highly recommended as one of the most pleasantly abstract chase films ever made. 8/10 (B+).