‘The Killer’s Game’ Review – A Hilarious And Over-The-Top Action Romp

Dave Bautista plays a hitman with a heart of gold in The Killer’s Game. He also plays a hitman with a set of morals, taking on the criminals and evil-doers, making him a justifiable rogue we, the audience, can root for, mainly when he falls in love. The film packs a wicked punch but is as heavy on the comedy as on the gunfire and fisticuffs. The action is propulsive. The plotline is silly, but this is Bautista’s show. He holds court, showing, at minimum, that he is the master of this particular game.

In The Killer’s Game, Bautista plays assassin-for-hire Joe Flood, who is at the top of his game. However, when he meets Maize (Sofia Boutella), a ballerina, she dances her way into his heart. Now Flood is dancing to a different tune and looks to retire from the assassin business. However, Flood receives another life-altering blow when he is diagnosed with a neurological disease and given less than three months to live. Rather than face a painful end of life, he orchestrates a hit on himself. Everything seems to go as planned until he receives a phone call from his doctor informing him of a mix-up at the lab. Now Flood will live, but the contract he took out on himself cannot be nixed. You can guess where the story goes from here…

What starts as a soft melodrama quickly diverts into a full-throated action comedy. It is as heavy on the comedy as it is on the action. Flood cannot cancel the hit, so he must take on the other for-hire killers coming after him. In addition, he has to protect Maize while coming clean about his secret life. Once we clear the hurdle of potentially watching Flood prepare to die for ninety minutes, the film finds itself and is an outright riot.

Bautista has already proven himself the best wrestler turned actor, and this film is yet another vehicle for his talents. While there is not much to work with, and the script often relies on fist-pumping action and John Wick-esque blood and gore, Bautista still makes each scene memorable. His irresistible charisma and comedic time flourish, and he delivers sharp one-liners as quickly as his knuckle sandwiches.

Sadly, much of the cast is one-dimensional. The other would-be-killers going after Flood are over-the-top characters who wear thin after their initial introductions. However, there is a charming supporting role by Ben Kingsley. He plays Flood’s mentor, Zvi, a blithe ex-assassin who advises as he organizes hits. Kingsley is always a welcome presence in the film, and in this outing, he manages to raise the rather flimsy material and adds a touch of class.

The Killer’s Game toys with its audience for much of the top two acts, balancing between a dramedy and a high-stakes thriller. However, once Flood is put on the run, taking down assassins like bowling pins, the film picks up speed and ultimately finds its footing. By the third act, the story feels like a marriage of John Wick and Home Alone. There is explosive and stomach-torching action. Blood and guts erupt in deliciously elaborate boobytraps. Throw in a priest for some last-minute confessionals; it is a party.

Ultimately, the movie is Bautista’s show. Whether knocking teeth out, karate-chopping his opponents, or firing quips, he is a born showman. By the end, the audience will laugh, they will cheer, and maybe even swoon. The Killer’s Game plays the long game, hoping that with enough setup at the start, the final payoff will be worth the price of admission. Those expecting something in the shape of 2023’s The Killer will be let down. This film is less of a treatise on a tortured soul and more action-fueled fun.

The Killer’s Game is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Lionsgate.