I start my reviews out by seeing a film that I first started hearing about last year. It made the top ten list on a lot of "best of" for 2010 horror lists and is just now seeing the light of day on Blu-Ray in the US. So, what is this film about exactly...well the title is very indicative of what you are getting here. Essentially you have a gangster style film mixed with horror elements...a blending of genres. For the most part I thought it was successful at doing just that. But a little bit about the film...
We are introduced to Jay, his wife Shel and their young boy Sam. At first they seem like the perfect nuclear family, but then the cracks start to show. Apparently times are tough around the household and Jay hasn't worked in "8 months!" We get all this information during a shouting match between hubby and wife and also learn that "at least we have the Jacuzzi". Some friends drop by, Jay's old pal from the war Gal and his new fling Fiona, and before long a dinner party goes awry as some stabbing comments from Shel throw Jay in a rage. Gal goes to comfort Jay and we find out they were in the Army together and something about a job in Kiev... And Fiona goes in the bathroom to powder her nose...and take out scissors and carve some strange symbol on the back of the bathroom mirror...yeah that's normal. Where did Gal meet this chick anyway?
Gal offers Jay a job and he is reluctant at first, but he knows he is failing his family, so agrees. At this point the movie seriously changes it's tone. We find out that the job that Jay has not been doing for 8 months involves killing people for money, and Gal is his partner in crime. They meet a client and thus we are literally shown the "Kill List". And Jay has to get his hand sliced open to make the deal...because he and client are like blood brothers now? From this point on we see Jay and Gal go from job to job as they go down the list. But Jay is acting just a bit crazier than normal. What is going on here? Who is Fiona? What is with that weird symbol? The questions just keep piling up until the "supposedly" jaw dropping twist, but back to that in a minute.
First off I have to give Neil Maskel who plays Jay some serious props. He goes from family man to crazed, psychotic hitman, with ease. He has terrific chemistry with Michael Smiley who plays his partner in crime Gal. They are friends, but at times act like brothers. Actually all of the actors do a superb job. The cinematography is at times very breathtaking and very gloomy, but very well done regardless. Director Ben Wheatley also throws us some ironic scenes. I thought the rainbow in the background right before a particularly violent scene that takes place in a church was a nice ironic touch.
And the violence, oh the violence! If you don't like seeing people get graphically assaulted with blunt objects, do not watch this film. The violent scenes are incredibly realistic and the camera does not pull away once the mayhem starts. Lets just say that Jay likes to use something other than a gun because, "these men are evil, and they deserve it". Seriously, there was one scene that went on for quite a while, that had me squirming in my seat. This is not for the faint of heart.
I felt a lot of things while watching this movie...sympathy, disgust, suspense, fear. In fact, the only thing that really did not work for me is the ending that has been touted so much. If it had not been for another controversial film that is making headlines, maybe the ending would have shocked me more, but it's the same idea as this other film; and it borrows heavily from a well known 1970's film, but that's all i'm going to say.
Since endings are not everything i'm going to give this film an 8.5 out of ten.
It moves along at a nice clip, is interesting, and at no point did I get bored or feel like it was dragging. Jay and Gal are fun to watch, and you wonder what Jay is going to do next, or how completely unhinged he's going to become. It's just that ending...
One note: although it may seem that I spoiled the entire movie, I only mentioned the plot points that get the movie in motion. What happens afterwards, and what I did I not mention is the best part...so enjoy!
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