Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense crime horror has gory violence, language, nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Kill List
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In KILL LIST, out-of-work army veteran Jay (Neil Maskell) takes an offer from his friend, Gal (Michael Smiley), to carry out an assassination job. While they work through their victims, strange occurrences usher in an occult mystery that centers on Jay.
Is It Any Good?
The close-quarters, intimate filming style of British director Ben Wheatley always puts the viewer in the picture. In Kill List, we're at the table during an unbearably tense dinner party held by a volatile and drunk couple. It puts us in the suburban kitchen of a man being tortured with a hammer. And that's just for starters. Intense, realistic, and frequently horrible, it isn't an easy watch. But for genre fans, its melding of crime thriller, occult folk horror, family drama, and pitch-black comedy rewards with bold moments of surprise that are exhilarating and unforgettable. Not for everyone, Kill List doesn't hold back or offer easy answers, but instead provides a gleeful experience for an audience onside with its singular tone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Kill List. Did you think it felt over the top or do you expect lots of gore in films like this? Did it make a difference that it looked realistic rather than cinematic and exciting? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Talk about how veterans were portrayed in the film. Had Jay, Gal, and Shel adjusted to civilian life? What issues might arise when someone leaves the services? How might their mental well-being be impacted?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 3, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : August 14, 2012
- Cast : Neil Maskell , Michael Smiley , MyAnna Buring
- Director : Ben Wheatley
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : IFC Films
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 12, 2024
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