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Former wrestler Dave Bautista got his big acting break in 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Drax the Destroyer, a role he would reprise in several subsequent films featuring the Guardians. Outside the Marvel universe, most of Bautista’s filmography falls into two categories: supporting roles in critically acclaimed movies and lead roles in ensemble action flicks, similar to the “Guardians” movies. It’s easy to see why—at Bautista’s imposing size, he doesn’t exactly scream “romantic comedy.” That’s what makes “The Killer’s Game” such a fresh experience for him: it’s an action film centered on a lone killing machine, a role reminiscent of the iconic action heroes like Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Van Damme in their ’80s and ’90s heyday.
“The Killer’s Game” follows Joe Flood, a highly skilled assassin who, after learning he has a terminal illness, puts a hit out on himself to avoid the slow decline. However, shortly after the contract is set, Joe discovers that the diagnosis was a mistake, and he’s perfectly healthy. Now, with some of the world’s deadliest assassins coming after him, Joe must use all his skills and cunning to survive and call off the hit before it’s too late.
Let’s be honest—there’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it doesn’t need to be. The straightforward plot is just an excuse to deliver fight scene after fight scene, with brief pauses for breath. Most of the action is handled by Bautista’s obvious stunt double, but that’s par for the course. As is tradition in this genre, each assassin has a quirky style or gimmick. There’s a K-pop band of killers, a pair of seductive lesbians, and two brothers who incorporate motorcycles into everything they do, just to name a few. These assassins are often more goofy than menacing, but they keep each fight feeling distinct, which is what really matters. It’s a structure similar to the “Accident Man” movies with Scott Adkins, but with a budget likely ten times higher—and it shows, at least in the first two acts.
Speaking of Adkins, he appears as one of the assassins in this movie and gets to show off some of his trademark martial arts moves. Like Bautista, Adkins feels like someone born 20 years too late, missing the golden age of martial artist-driven action films. He’s a regular in the straight-to-streaming world, with at least two or three releases a year, and occasionally lands a supporting role in bigger-budget films. Bautista’s role here isn’t far from the kind of parts Adkins typically plays. Compared to his work in “Dune” or “Blade Runner 2049”, this is definitely a step down for Bautista, but if those critically acclaimed roles didn’t exist, he might be cranking out $2 million action flicks for streaming services every few months, much like Adkins.
One notable assassin in the film is played by Terry Crews. Like Bautista, Crews has managed to avoid the straight-to-streaming grind, despite having the kind of imposing physique that would make him a natural fit for action films. His filmography surprisingly features only a handful of action roles, including his appearances in the first three “Expendables” movies. It’s fun to see him in this type of film, as he can effortlessly handle the action, but I applaud him for not taking the easy route. Crews has built a more varied career, steering clear of the typical tough-guy roles that could have easily typecast him.
“The Killer’s Game” feels like a movie with two distinct faces. The first act is sincere and understated, as Joe falls in love with a ballet dancer and decides to retire, only to receive the devastating news of his supposed terminal illness. But once the second act kicks in and Joe has to fend off wave after wave of assassins, the film takes a hard turn. It transforms into a live-action cartoon, with an almost invincible Bautista dispatching killers in increasingly over-the-top, exaggerated ways. It’s undeniably fun, but the tonal shift is a complete 180 from the grounded feel of the opening act.
By the time the movie reaches its third act, it’s running out of steam—and likely out of budget—since all the action shifts to a remote castle. Here, all the remaining assassins gather for one final showdown with Joe, who turns the entire castle into an R-rated version of “Home Alone”. It plays out exactly as you’d expect, and the film certainly won’t win any points for originality. Still, it’s a fun little action movie with a slightly bigger budget than similar films get these days. It knows what it is, and for fans of the genre, that’s enough.
