Review of Kill List (2011) by Pinattar — 12 Feb 2012

I haven't seen a film like this since Mulholland Dr., a really well made film. the acting, directing and writing is great. but what stood out the most was the tone and atmosphere of the film, this I think is a prime example of a "psychological thriller/horror".

I really loved how the film started out as a thriller/action and then evolved into a thriller horror. and what a horror it was, I can't remember the last time I was this scared watching a film (i think its mainly because of the weirdness of it all).

but the main question I think most of you will have is what was it all about. was it a dream or was it reality? that's the best explanation i've read of this film and the director has said that many of the thing in the movie were taken from his nightmares.

there are a lot of reoccurring images that occur throughout the film. ex. in the beginning Jay is seen "play fighting" with his wife and child, Sam is on his mother's back (just like in the end of the film), they are using fake swords (in the end they use knives) and Jay "kills" them (just like in the end of the film).

another ex. the rabbit that the cats kills has it's guts coming out and when the cat is killed Gal says that he always loved the cat (in the tunnel seen Gal is stabbed ans his guts are spilling out just like the rabbits).

and finally at different parts of the you hear someone saying "wake up" to Sam. the only problem I have with this is that you don't know where the dream stars and where it ends. it should be noted that the director has said that "shes [Shel] laughing at sheer crushing irony of it all", if that helps at all.

so apart of the ambiguity of it all, it really is a great film. it's one of those movies that you need to watch more than once to fully understand it.