Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Over-the-top killing, blood, gore in romantic action comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Killer's Game
What's the Story?
In THE KILLER'S GAME, Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is the best assassin in the game, but lately he's started experiencing headaches and double vision. On his latest job, he rescues a beautiful ballet dancer, Maize (Sofia Boutella), and she invites him to dinner. They hit it off and quickly fall in love, but then Joe visits a doctor and learns that he has a degenerative illness and only three months to live. Rather than confess what he does for a living to Maize and put her through the agony of his death, Joe contacts his loyal handler, Zvi (Ben Kingsley), and asks him to put out a hit on himself. Zvi refuses, so Joe goes to an old archenemy, Marianna (Pom Klementieff), who's only too happy to comply. But just before the contract is set to begin, Joe gets a call from his doctor: There was a mistake, and he's going to live! Alas, it's too late to call off the contract, and now Joe must face an entire army of professional killers who are gunning for him.
Is It Any Good?
It's not exactly the most original idea for a movie, but this action comedy runs with it, keeping things light and speedy, with Bautista holding up his end as a tough, funny, romantic lead. Directed by former stuntman JJ Perry (Day Shift), The Killer's Game gets things going right away, with Joe pulling off a hit during a ballet. The murders are, of course, intercut with the dancing, but it works. The dancing is exciting, and the cutting is crisp. Another clever sequence intercuts Joe and Maize's budding romance with more of Joe's killings; he adorns her with a necklace and strangles a victim in the same beat.
As the movie goes on, Perry finds ways to keep the killings surprising and not repetitive, but it's Bautista who sells most of this. He has a fun, low-key delivery that makes most of his one-liners work, and Joe's impromptu confession to a Catholic priest is flat-out hilarious. But what's really notable about the movie is that it fully embraces its unabashed romance. Joe and Maize are truly in love, and viewers are likely to really root for them. Movies about unending violence can be numbing, and certainly The Killer's Game doesn't break any new ground, but, in treating this whole business as a "game," it winds up being a decent measure of fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Killer's Game. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
What's interesting about stories in which criminals are the main characters? Can they be considered antiheroes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 13, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : October 4, 2024
- Cast : Dave Bautista , Sofia Boutella , Terry Crews
- Director : JJ Perry
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual material, brief drug use and nudity
- Last updated : September 20, 2024
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