Action-comedy The Killer’s Game is the most complete performance Dave Bautista has ever had, and it’s a must-see for his fans. I consider myself one of them, as he’s been a personal favorite since the first day he debuted with the WWE. Back then he was massively jacked, and stayed that way for a long time. Now, he’s shed a lot of weight through jiujitsu (as you can see in my recent interview with him), and has become the best wrestler-turned-actor working today. But he’s done it largely without having a chance to be a romantic lead. Sure, he can throw people around with ease, and gets plenty of opportunities to do so in this crazy star-studded action flick. However, we also get to see that Bautista is meant for so much more than beating people up.
The funny thing is that The Killer’s Game wasn’t meant for Bautista at all, at least not initially. Throughout many failed attempts, Jason Statham, Wesley Snipes, and Michael Keaton were attached to the lead role before Bautista was ever considered. That list of actors should tell you the role of hitman Joe Flood is more than just a beat ’em up. It requires a bit more subtlety, expressions of grief, passion, tenderness, and remorse…along with cracking skulls.
Bautista plays Joe Flood, the ultimate assassin and a total badass. When we first meet him, he’s taking out some high-value target at a ballet recital, which is where he first encounters prima ballerina Maize (Sofia Boutella), who has no idea he’s the cause of all the death and chaos that interrupts the show. The two have an awkward meet-cute but eventually they fall in love, which is a problem for somebody in Joe’s business. He doesn’t want to keep secrets from her and is looking for a way out. Joe is mentored by his employer, Zvi (Ben Kingsley), who is more like a father-figure than a boss. Zvi also has concerns. There are only two ways out of their line of work: either you get out clean, or on your back.
So why has Hollywood been trying for more than two decades to bring The Killer’s Game to the big screen? It sounds like your typical “one last job” storyline seen in dozens of similar movies. While there is certainly that aspect to it, and I’d be lying to say it breaks the mold, there’s a fun little twist that stunned the audience who attended our recent screening. Joe, who is plagued with debilitating headaches, is diagnosed by a doctor with a terminal disease, one that will prevent him from being with Maize and continuing to do his job. Preferring to go out like a warrior, he contracts an old foe, Marianna, played by Bautista’s Guardians of the Galaxy co-star Pom Klementieff (Drax + Mantis 4ever!!), to put out a bounty on his head. And she is more than happy to oblige, hiring the best of the best to finish Joe for good.
There’s just one problem: the doctor screwed up. Joe isn’t sick. Assuming he can survive the army of paid mercs sent to kill him, he should live a long and happy life. Oops!
Penned by Rand Ravich and James Coyne, The Killer’s Game is directed by former stuntman JJ Perry, who crafts cool-looking violence in the John Wick style. He previously directed the offbeat Jamie Foxx vampire film Day Shift, and there’s a similarly weird mix of tones. The film works best when it leans into being a straight action vehicle for Bautista and a crew of elite fighters that will make any fan of the genre take notice. Of the hired guns itching to collect on Joe’s head is Terry Crews as Dolemite-esque killer Lovedahl, who gets saddled with a dopey sidekick. Marko Zaror, who turned a lot of heads (including mine) with last year’s Fist of the Condor, plays a hitman who enjoys a good Flamenco dance while he works. There’s also the awesome Scott Adkins and WWE superstar Drew McIntyre as Scottish brothers whose dialogue is so unintelligible it needs subtitles. Mix in a bunch of J-Pop gangsters, a pair of stripper party gals with big guns (not a euphemism), and Joe is in danger of dying at any moment.
Most of the bloodshed takes place in a massive castle which turns out to be one giant kill box. Perry mixes black humor, Troma-levels of gore, and real consequences and the formula doesn’t always work. There’s also the love story between Joe and Maize, which is genuinely sweet and shows how good at this Bautista is. But the biggest laughs come from the interactions between Joe, Zvi, and the latter’s wife, played by Alex Kingston. They treat Joe like their own child, and aren’t afraid to embarrass him with stories of their (occasionally X-rated) marital issues.
While Bautista and Boutella have decent romantic chemistry, it’s a shame we don’t get to see her do more as a skilled dancer and fighter herself. Bautista is called upon to be her rescuer and lover, and they are roles he’s more than suited for. The Killer’s Game will be a blast for anyone who shows up to watch Bautista throw down, but they’re also going to get a glimpse at the rest of his career taking on more diverse roles. I just hope when that happens he continues to clear some room on his schedule for flicks like this where he can punch people a lot.
The Killer’s Game opens on September 13th.
