Cult Killer

So, I'm not a big fan of these straight-to-video productions. But I like Antonio Banderas (generally) so I watched the trailer. What was surprising is to see Alice Eve all covered up, which intrigued me. Of all the production I've seen Ms. Eve participate in, it's guaranteed that at some point she gets basically naked. This puts here firmly in the "sex kitten" bucket of actors, which means all the has to offer is basically her looks. A horrid example is Star Trek: En la oscuridad (2013) where she plays an important Trek character and does it quite well - but then hey had to get her naked. It's total fan service and insulting to the audience.

So, here's Cult Killer where she plays a leading role and no where in the trailer - in which she is featured prominently - does she expose anything but her head. Interesting, me thinks, they're going to let her act.

And the girl can actually act.

Aside from an introductory bit of flamboyance in the opening scene - in which she uses her womanly wiles and ample cleavage to shill drinks from eager oglers - she keeps buttoned up and covered in black turtlenecks and overcoats the rest of the film.

What follows is a type of coming-of-age story and a redemption arc for Eve's character, where she works a serial murder case (as a private investigator to the police) and find she has all too much in common with the killer and "their" motives.

I recommend this film to give Ms. Eve her belated due. Here is a film that's "okay" and "it's been done," but to see Ms. Eve allowed to showcase her acting chops is a delight.

I wish her all the success in the world.

Having seen the movie, these titles of "The Last Girl" or "Cult Killer" (having two is not a good sign) seem absurd and are no doubt part of the reason why some reviewers give such low ratings, as their expectations were not met by reading too much into them.

Something like "Revenge of the Abused" or "The Playhouse" would have been far more suitable.

Overall the movie held my attention as it had an unusual enough premise and I wanted to see how it concluded. It could have been more of a thriller, but lacked enough plot twists and reveals for that, which is not to say there were nonesuch.

There wasn't much by way of suspense, either, as you find out too much for that too soon, and the story becomes much more of a procedural. Indeed, it struck me that this could have been a feature-length pilot for a TV series about a female (English?) private investigator and recovering alcoholic, in Ireland, who sometimes works alongside the police (Garda). However I think the marketing may have screwed it up too much for anything like that. You certainly wouldn't expect Banderas or Eve in something like that. So it seems to have come across that way perhaps more by accident than design.

Alice Eve acquits herself fairly well, and you can certainly see how her character comes to identify with the killer she is pursuing (and vice-versa), but her 'badass' scenes and the character depth she provides are undone by the couple of scenes where she comes across as a genteel English Rose, especially at the end (Oh no!"), which stood out all the more in a movie with some brutal and bloody scenes, some of which her character was involved in. This left me wondering if she was not the first choice for the role, but they couldn't afford e.g. Kate Beckinsale. She just seems slightly miscast, or perhaps the best they could get for it and ultimately, despite some aspects of her performance, as not quite right for the role, at least in hindsight.

Hennig is very good in her role opposite Eve; her character was completely on-point, but the acting honours in this one go to Banderas, who is excellent as the mentor to Eve's character.

I was split between rating it 6/7 (13/20 perhaps?) and eventually decided to go down rather than up. Probably not a movie you would go out of your way for, but it's watchable if you do - so long as your expectations are not based on the appalingly given titles.

I have never written a review before. At 65 and growing up watching movies all the time. I feel I needed to stand up for this movie. Yes, not for American tastes. More a European style acting and cinematography. It had a ton of flashbacks which were very well done. I am not usually in favor of short flashback scenes as they tend to ruin story lines confusing the viewer, not this movie. I felt story was well played and acted.

My only complaint would be the extra gore. I am not a fan of extra violence.

This may not be a true story, but I am fairly certain there are very accurate components. There is evil in the world.

The movie just looks poorly made. Odd extras that perform below amateur level. Some simply look like they have never done any acting in their life.

Character actions feel rushed and quite unnatural. Like picking the lock like no one ever would, or doing covert operation like a bunch of students who are lost in the mall. As mentioned beforehand, many things are done on amateur level.

Movie also gave me a feeling that it tries to be Ozark, whether its a camera work, or a background theme. A tall tree to climb.

To be fair, Eve and Banderas do their best, but it is a mystery to me who convinced them to participate in this endeavor.

It's not horrible, but I wouldn't pay to see it.

The idea and concept of the movie are noteworthy, but the overall execution leaves a certain amount of disappointment.

The film strives to be tense and keep the viewer in constant suspense, but does not always achieve this due to uneven plotting and episodes that sometimes drag on.

Nevertheless, the film has some interesting moments and stylish visuals that give it a certain uniqueness.

The film does not lose its charm, although its realization could have been stronger.

Cult Killer is a movie worth watching if you are ready for an experimental approach and are not afraid of some flaws.

6/10.