Review of Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) by Timothy T — 26 Dec 2015

There were things I enjoyed about this film, and even admired. But at the end of the day, it fails because of one thing if nothing else: gratuitous violence. Violence without purpose, without meaning, without a point. When you are meant to feel nothing about the horrific death of people on film other than amazement or awe at the highly choreographed methods of their deaths, then I think something rather wrong is going on, both in terms of filmmaking, entertainment, and frankly, ethics.

Call me overly serious, overly sensitive, or overly analytical, but the truth is that film does not exist in a vacuum in our society, nor is it devoid of meaning. Entertainment is part of culture. It both reflects us and affects us. And a film with a scene such as the cringe-inducing one about 2/3 through left my feeling a little awful and sick inside.

It is less because of the content itself -- as awful as it was -- but because the content lacked a context that justified its existence. Beyond simple shock, or display of photographic or choreographic skill, there was little there. Were we supposed to find it funny, or palatable, because the characters involved had morally objectionable opinions? I don't find a massacre satirically compelling.

While some characters may have displayed the natural human reaction of horror at the scene, this was offset. Offset by that of Firths character (an actor I highly admire), which seemed in the effort to continue his understated Englishness, became either inappropriately or unrealistically understated. How could the moment of realisation be anything other than vomit inducing for a human character unless they were psychotic? If the point there was to be satirical, it feel flat and was unsuccessful. But the bigger offset was the lack of a compelling or serious tone, even seriously satirical, to that horrifying event.

Yes, many films have body counts and don't bat an eye or flinch emotionally. I have issues often with them as well. But the level of violence here together with the tone demands a reason, an explanation, or an appropriate emotional weight in a film. I did not see this present.

I may comment more later on good affects of the film. But unfortunately in my view the gratuitous violence sinks it.

(If anyone can offer a reason why I might be wrong or missing something here. please explain how my interpretation is mistaken or off the mark.).