Hard Kill

Hard Kill
Directed by Matt Eskandari
Starring Bruce Willis, Jesse Metcalfe, Sergio Rizzuto, Lala Kent and Natalie Eva Marie
Coming to UK Digital Download September 14th, 2020

by Gemsy

Hard Kill finds a team of mercenary ex-troopers led by Derek Miller (Jesse Metcalfe) – suspicious of neither the lack of details around an offered job, nor the huge pay packet for something seemingly simple – find themselves surrounded on all sides by anti-establishment terrorists. With little ammo, a terrible defensive location, and few men against many, they must save billionaire Donovan Chalmers (Bruce Willis) – and by extension the entire world.

The film is rife with holes. Plot holes, believable backstory holes, gaping personality holes… it’s holier than swiss cheese and only stinks a bit less. While I’ve felt more emotional attachment to a water biscuit than to our main players, it must be difficult to get into a part when using a script with which you could play action-film-one-liner bingo. Not only that, but the unfathomable actions of some of the characters suggest decisions made as a result of mild concussions, rather than from elite ex-military training. And the big bad guy must have psychic powers, given the number of times that people see him double-cross, but still trust him with puppy-like hope.

However, there are elements that can’t be blamed on scripting. For example, a lot of people get shot. These potentially fatal wounds are portrayed with less depth of pain than someone standing on a piece of lego. Actually, that can be quite sore… Let’s say they should have at least watched a two-year-old who’s missed their go on the tricycle.

Saying all this, the film wasn’t 1 hour and 38 minutes of absolute tedium. The plot is a melting pot of generic thriller scenarios and characters, but there is redemption. The protagonists are likeable and there is an element of ‘so bad it’s good’ about it. While the reasons it comes around isn’t fully comprehensible, the finale is reasonably and appropriately dramatic, and the soundtrack is genuinely great. It’s not going to be a hard win, but it’s an enjoyable Sunday afternoon thriller.