PopHorror Let's Get Scared
While not my go to genre, I do enjoy martial arts films quite a bit. What I am a bigger fan of is science fiction, especially films about people with superhuman abilities. The moment I saw the Kill Order trailer, I was really excited to see it. The film looked like it could be a new classic of the genre. Did Kill Order meet my expectations? Or did it turn out to be a disappointment? Read on!
Kill Order is the debut film from writer/director James Mark. The film stars Chris Mark, Daniel Park, and Jessica Clement (A Christmas Horror Story 2015), Jason Gosbee, and Amos Crawley.
Synopsis
When David, a troubled high school student who appears to suffer from mental illness, finds himself in a situation where he is about to be taken captive for reasons unknown, a dark power takes over his body opening the doors to a world of superhuman abilities and a past kept secret.
What Worked
Unfortunately, Kill Order was a mixed bag for me. I will start with the positive. Stunt performers comprise the majority of the cast. Because of this, the action was top notch. They didn’t have to cut away from the action to obscure a stunt double’s face. The majority of the action sequences were impressive, and the fight scenes were brutal! I loved the effects used to show David’s powers. I thought they worked beautifully. The cast did a good job of balancing emotion with their action scenes. The character I connected with most was May (Jessica Clement). She supports David the best she can in a situation that neither of them truly understand.
What Didn’t Work
Now for my complaints. The thing I liked most about the film was the relationship between May and David. It gave me something to invest in. Unfortunately, May exits the film a little over halfway through and it pretty much stalled my emotional investment. The characters are vaguely defined and not developed very well. With the exception of David, no one grows. The final fight scene isn’t bad, but it’s not the epic send off I expected. It’s basically another case of David fighting a shadowy corporation’s lackey. I’m sure this is because they are planning a sequel, but it leaves the audience with zero resolution. We have more questions than answers. It is incredibly frustrating.
Kill Order Final Thoughts
Kill Order is a film that succeeds on the strength of its action alone. Besides that, the film is short on character development and plot resolution, while leaving the film open for a sequel. I would be game for a sequel as long as they could find a balance between the excellent action I know the filmmakers are capable of, with some solid character growth and plot resolution. If deep character development isn’t something your require and if you like films packed to the gills with action, give Kill Order a shot.
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