Joe Flood (Dave Bautista), is a man who is highly skilled and in demand for his services which involve dispatching some of the most evil and criminal individuals in the world.
As a contract killer for hire; Joe is reliable, efficient, and works by a strict code of ethics that has earned him significant respect in his profession.
A chance meeting in the aftermath of an assignment leads Joe into a relationship with a dancer named Maize (Sofia Boutella), who is contemplating what her life after Ballet will offer and enjoys her time in Hungary with a popular show.
Joe was at first reluctant to get involved but his handler (Ben Kingsley) advises him to make sure he enjoys a life outside of his work, especially if he is planning to walk away from it as Joe has indicated he wishes to do.
In “The Killer’s Game” which is based on a book of the same name; Life, love, and death combine as Joe learns that he has an incurable disease and decides to hire to have someone end his life so he can go out fighting and also allow his insurance to pay Maize enough money to live her dreams even though he has to end their relationship to keep her safely distant for what is to come next.
Joe is forced to use a broker named Marianna (Pom Klementieff) who has a long-standing grudge against Joe but was prohibited from taking action until Joe hired her services. Joe asks until midnight to get his affairs in order and awaits the arrival of those eager to earn two million dollars for taking him out.
Life can be funny; and Joe receives a message that the lab switched his specimen label and he is actually fine. When his attempts to call off the hit fail, Joe is forced to face all comers from his industry who are eager to earn a payday at his death.
What follows is a frantic mix of action and comedy with a zany cast of characters who are as quirky as they are deadly and the mayhem follows.
The movie may follow a fairly standard formula for action films, but the cast is great and there are some really great performances from Ben Kingsley and the leads which make the movie work. The action is at times brutal but is often played off with a comedic twist that Bautista delivers with an effective deadpan.
While some may find the plot a bit predictable, the strength of the film is how it combines outrageous characters and action sequences with enough humor to make the whole thing work as it is in many ways a comedic action film.
The scenery and action of the film blend well and make “The Killer’s Game” a pleasant enough surprise for those looking for some action filled laughs.
3.5 stars out of 5
