Director: Justin Lee
Year: 2020
Rated NR
Rating: * 1/2 Stars
Cast: Ed Morrone, Billy Zane, Edward Finlay
"That's it for story time". 2020's Final Kill (my latest review) has a "story" but a weird and silly way in which it goes about it. I'm wondering why Billy Zane would appear in "Kill", I'm wondering why Danny Trejo would be in one scene for thirty seconds, and I'm wondering why Dr. Drew Pinksy would make such a random cameo (the dude's not even an actor).
Anyway, "Kill" at a running time of 80 minutes, is a so-called action film with more annoying dialogue than action. It's like the type of B-movie schlock that Bruce Willis would appear in regularly (apparently he wasn't available). It's also the type of patchwork flick that Adam Stephen Kelly would do on holiday (remember Kill Kane?)
Now does Final Kill literally fail to take itself seriously? Oh you betcha. And does its gnawing of bad, tongue-in-cheek labor and strained line readings get to you? Oh for sure.
The director of "Kill" is Mr. Justin Lee. His filming of shootouts is shoddy, his notion of wrapping everything up quickly is evident, his twists and turns are archaic for the viewer, and his use of chance flashbacks is obligatory to the nth degree.
Distributed by Cinedigm (they like to get involved in little-seen endeavors) and garnered without a rating (I would have gone with a weak R), First Kill is about a protection specialist who takes on one last job. He must protect a husband and wife who have stolen 8 million dollars from a well known crime outfit.
Ed Morrone plays said protection specialist and his performance is like nails on a chalkboard. He's not a bad actor but he clearly doesn't think the audience knows how irksome he truly is.
Bottom line: First Kill clearly didn't need to be made (but sadly it was). Once is the "final" time I will ever see it. Look for a low budget feel despite some gleaming shots of palm-treed Costa Rica (I sure hope it was Costa Rica). Rating: 1 and a half stars.
Written by Jesse Burleson
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