Review - Kill List

As one of the most-talked about British films of 2011, Kill List was top of my list for films to finally watch in 2012 and, as promised, it did not fail to deliver.

We are in the presence of Jay (Neil Maskell), a hitman who, after a job goes wrong in Kiev, finds himself shying away from his killing roots to settle with his wife (MyAnna Buring) and child, and experiencing an imaginary back problem. Despite his reluctance to enter back into the killing profession his best friend and partner Gal (Michael Smiley) has an offer unlike any they have experienced before that changes all that. 


A job offer. A list of three people to kill with the promise of an unbelievable pay-off. Sounds simple right? Unfortunately what appears to be a routine job for the professionals is far from it. That is the magic of Kill List, nothing is ever as it seems, both for our characters and the viewer.


As Jay and Gal stalk and investigate their prey there are shocks aplenty and, as their targets are further unveiled, the mental state of Jay spirals out of control, resulting in him unleashing a wave of anger and violence on those who have they have been ordered to kill. One particular scene that will stay in the mind of viewers for some time is the use of a hammer on the target dubbed 'The Librarian' which rivals any torture scene in the world of film for sheer shock value. 


With every minute that passes on the partners' mission there is confusion, horror and sheer violence and director Ben Wheatley must be highly commended for what is a truly unique British film. Its uniqueness comes in the form of the ever mysterious nature of the story as well as a fascinatingly unnerving soundtrack and a superb mix of multiple genres in what is a modern classic.


First half a classic gritty British gangster film the second a lesson in true affecting horror, Kill List will no doubt stick in the mind some time after viewing, an effect that proves it is so mesmerising. Delivering in terms of believable characters, brutality and sheer nightmarish vision, Wheatley has created something special.


Film rating: 5 out of 5 F's