(2011) dir Ben Wheatley w/Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring, Harry Simpson, Emma Fryer [95 min]
The newest from acclaimed British director Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace), KILL LIST is an intricately constructed film that almost begs to be seen more than once. A brilliant blend of family drama, crime thriller and terrifying psychological horror, KILL LIST tells the story of an ex-soldier turned contract killer who is plunged into the heart of human darkness. Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev, Jay (Maskell) is pressured by his partner Gal (Smiley) into taking a new assignment. Neither man, however, no matter how hardened they may be, has any idea just how dark and twisted this new job is.
The film wisely avoids extraneous exposition, leaving the audience asking questions at the same time (and sometimes with the same level of desperation) as Jay and Gal. Wheatley’s direction treats family confrontation and armed showdowns with a naturalistic shooting style, drawing us into Jay’s paranoid worldview before pulling the rug out from under us with a stunningly shocking ending. We can practically guarantee that this is one of those films that you will be talking about for weeks after seeing it.
“KILL LIST is a definite widescreen cinematic experience loaded with delicious details… It’s also the kind of movie designed to mess up your mind, like some unseen Nicolas Roeg or Ken Russell picture.” – Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com
“A shocking, emotionally resonant and horrific ride. KILL LIST will leave your bones rattling.” –Drew Taylor, Indiewire
News & Reviews
Kill List
Area Premiere March 2–8!
Co-presented with Independent Film Festival Boston
Buy Tickets Brattle Passes OK
(2011) dir Ben Wheatley w/Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring, Harry Simpson, Emma Fryer [95 min]
The newest from acclaimed British director Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace), KILL LIST is an intricately constructed film that almost begs to be seen more than once. A brilliant blend of family drama, crime thriller and terrifying psychological horror, KILL LIST tells the story of an ex-soldier turned contract killer who is plunged into the heart of human darkness. Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev, Jay (Maskell) is pressured by his partner Gal (Smiley) into taking a new assignment. Neither man, however, no matter how hardened they may be, has any idea just how dark and twisted this new job is.
The film wisely avoids extraneous exposition, leaving the audience asking questions at the same time (and sometimes with the same level of desperation) as Jay and Gal. Wheatley’s direction treats family confrontation and armed showdowns with a naturalistic shooting style, drawing us into Jay’s paranoid worldview before pulling the rug out from under us with a stunningly shocking ending. We can practically guarantee that this is one of those films that you will be talking about for weeks after seeing it.