The Killing Zone

With much reservation and thought, I decided to watch The Killing Zone after the recommendation of friends. Being able to make ones own mind up and to not be swayed by popular opinion I sat down to watch another run of the mill Brit indie gangster flick. WRONG! From an great opening title sequence which thumps of sixties vibes to a great one on one monologe and into stylish underground London you know your in for something different, something special. Ian D Diaz has crafted a wonderful piece of work,which lends its theme to such sixties films as The Ipcress Files, but with a modern day story of love and betrayal. Now and again it falls victim to over enthusiastic performances, but with a great supporting cast particularly from Mark Bowden and Nicola Stapleton the treat is watching these characters interact and play off of one another. This debut feature film script by Ian Diaz is sharp and comedic in its view of a seedy London underground life and complimenting its feel is damn fine lighting, great set design and a film score which pulls you deeper into a well paced high value looking picture. We will be seeing more of these guys, I hope.

Stop the presses - I just saw the most awesome film! For all you film buffs out there who consider yourselves aficionados of great cult classics, remove yourselves from the hall of fame if you haven't packed your pieces and entered into The Killing Zone.

It was a Friday night like any other - having seen like every worthy cult classic at the corner video store; I was forced into the mundane void of new-release land. What is that section all about? The Million copies of `Gweneth In Love With Herself' and `I Married A Warner Brothers Executive' stranded me in a sea of schlock. I was drowning! Throw me a life-vest (preferably without Leo DiCaprio attached!) My hand stretched out towards this brightly colored indie film cover. Saved, but by no means out of danger.

Watching The Killing Zone I was immediately transported to that feeling you get when you know you are watching an underground classic for the first time. Repo Man, Blue Velvet, She's Gotta Have It. You know this one is going to stay with you and provide an endless supply of super cool tag lines to get you out of sticky situations.

`I'm not a happy-bunny.'

`You don't need a gun to sell a computer!'

And one that I'll be firing at American Express next time they call:

`Ya don't wanna vex me, ya don't wanna f**ck with me!'

This London Crime Thriller is the real thing, and makes Guy Ritchie's films look like a tourist trip around Buckingham Palace on a Double Decker Bus. If you've seen Snatch, you'll know what I mean!

With worthy performances by Padraig Casey & Nicola Stapleton, and an exceptional performance by Mark Bowden with his witty English take on The Surfer Dude icon, this film is a whomping triumph for talented newcomers. Forget Barry Sears, if you really want to be `in your zone,' get into `The Killing Zone'.

This is a great little film that does what it says on the box. Its low-budget but makes no excuses for it. It looks good, is well put together and the music is excellent. If there's one thing to criticise then maybe its some of the acting but that doesn't really make much difference to the overall package. This is a great video to watch with a pizza and a beer with some mates on a Friday night. That's what I did

Santa came down the chimney this year with a whole bunch of new DVD's for me to spend the cold winter nights with. Amongst them was the innocently titled `THE KILLING ZONE'. Now if your idea of holiday viewing is to curl up with your lady wife in front of `Miracle On 34th Street', then Don't Put `The Killing Zone' in your player. Do not turn up the surround sound to eleven on the dial and be sure to cover your plasma screen with a blanket. Why? -This film kicks like a mule. From the very first scene, as the assassin's first bullet rips through the chest of his victim with the sound of a tomahawk missile screeching through the streets of Baghdad, you know it's going to be a rough ride for any character who comes into contact with British hit man Palmer.

I don't know much about film - but I know what I like! This film gripped me from start to finish like no other action Brit-Flick I've seen. It isn't just another bunch of London mockney geezers who don't know one end of a shotgun from the other " 'avin a larf" like so many other British gangster films we've been offered. This film has class, style, action and real humour.

The Writer/Director (Ian David Diaz) has spliced together the best of the 1960's British action genre and sewn it all up with a whole wedge of 1990's black comedy. Throw in a taste of the `Comic-Book' underground tempered with a lavish splash of big-time Hollywood values, all put together in a bouquet of gun's, girls and good old-fashioned entertainment. I tell you – this has got to be a recipe for future feature successes. The cast are cool, sharp and down right hilarious. Look out for Mark Bowden as Lance who certainly knows how to play both the comedy and drama of a scene. Padraig Casey as Palmer knows how to point a gun and kill people. Nicola Stapleton as Kerry will knock you dead if Bowden does not kill you laughing and Casey fire a bullet in your brain. Together they form the perfect combination move for the finale to this film. Three Friends – One Scene – No survivors? You'll have to watch it!

Meanwhile, can Santa bring me another like it next year?

The Killing Zone is one of the best low budget films I've seen in a long time! I'd say it's even better than that other UK gangster flick, Lock Stock! (If I see a bleached-looking film again, I'll scream!) Why on earth didn't this film get a theatrical release, lord knows? It's totally awesome!!!!! Great writing, great lighting, cool sound effects (the sound for hero's gun is wild), and the music...that should be released by itself!

And the performances - they're the bomb! Convincing, believable, funny. Yeah! I noticed even Harry Knowles and the Ain't it Cool mob loved it - you should see their review!

I loved every moment of this picture, to the way it was directed to the way it was produced- when it comes out over here in the States I urge you - my fellow Americans - to see it. Sam Fuller.