Review of Kill List (2011) by David B — 13 Jan 2012

Eight months after an assignment in Kiev an experience that has left ex-soldier turned hit man Jay (Neil Maskell) emotionally and physically scarred, when he is then persuaded by his wife Shel (MyAnna Buring) and partner Gal (Michael Smiley) to take on a new job. Their new employee simply referred to has the â~clientâ(TM) who issues them with the Kill List. As they both proceed to work their way through it, Jay starts to lose a grip as his obvious psychotic state takes a terrifying grip while Gal trying to unsuccessfully to tame his violent approach as he heads off into a surreal nightmare of fear and paranoia.

Kill List has been garnered a good amount of praise with the likes of the Evening Standard declaring it âA Masterpieceâ? Opening with a sequence like a Mike Leigh type gritty social drama, as the obvious shadow of the ongoing recession is present as Jay and Shel argue about financial problems witnessed by their young son Sam (Harry Simpson). It's established quite early in a sequence that see's Gal's girlfriend Fiona (Emma Fryer) scrawling a symbol on the back of the couples bathroom mirror and then replacing it during a dinner party near the beginning of the film that this isn't your typical hit man flick as well , coming on like Get Carter crossed with The Wicker Man via Harold Pinter and Dennis Wheatley as one reviewer as rather succinctly put.

The film received a rather limited release in 2011 but is likely to grow its audience now it has it has been released on Blu ray and DVD. Wheatleyâ(TM)s follow up to his acclaimed debut Down Terrace is an impressive mash up of genres while not a âmasterpieceâ? as claimed, like James Watkins Eden Lake shows with a small budget and a smart idea that it can resonate much longer than the majority of Hollywood product that gets green lit these days. Maskell & Buring are fantastic as the couple whose relationship is rapidly becoming unhinged as Jay enters back into his dark state of mind. Smiley rapidly building his C.V coming to attention as memorable Tyres O'Flaherty in Simon Pegg & Jessica Hynes cult comedy the sublime Spaced, as well as popping up in varied TV dramaâ(TM)s in the UK including Bleak House and Wheatleyâ(TM)s Down Terrace, is here terrific adding a welcome balance of humour to offset the darkness as well as adding strong dramatic support to Maskell.

How you view Kill List will be down to whether you are a fan of ambiguity as the film is very short on exposition, the director keen to leave things open to interpretation, some have already shown frustration with the ending feeling the film cops out after building up to a crescendo ending quite spectacularly which could either find you numb and deeply shocked (like this viewer) or hugely disappointed that the film has taken such a jump. It's horror credentials spelled out in capital letters come the conclusion. Not quite impressive as Eden Lake it inhabits a similar vein, a sense of uneasiness from the first frame, Jim Williams score subtlety investing the film with a underlying sense of dread.

While Watkins climax of Eden Lake is more realistic Wheatley and co-writer Amy Jumpâ(TM)s (Husband and Wife Team) does leave a lasting impression that is likely to be debated over for some time. Wheatley includes violence typical of a crime film but where most directors are likely to pull away director Wheatley lingers for a number of seconds more in a selection of scenes more common to horror, the two genre's complimenting each other effectively, most notable in the infamous â~hammer sequenceâ(TM). He is on record as saying that he felt the character of the hit man in cinema is somewhat lionised and he wanted to draw attention to the fact that these are despicable people who kill for money. He also doesnâ(TM)t let the viewer off instantly with some humour allowing the sequence to resonate, the sound design is particularly impressive if not a little sick. The deliberately amateurish camera work may be typical of the low budget but the standard of the cinematography coupled with Robin Hill's distinctive editing while simple is extremely effective. A strong stomach is required but if you are looking for something different and are comfortable with the fore mentioned then a look is thoroughly recommended. Also a word of warning if animal slaughter is something that may upset caution is suggested as the film has it as a running theme throughout.