Instinct to Kill

Where to start with this movie? How about with the DVD packaging. The back of the box claims the movie is from the director of "Commando" and "Firestarter". Well, that's technically true, but the individual in question (Mark L. Lester) just PRODUCED this movie, not actually directing it. The packaging also puts Mark Dacasco up front and center with a gun, suggesting (along with the title) that this movie is filled with action. While there are some action sequences, there aren't as many as you'd think. The story actually concerns Dacasco helping a woman fend off her psychotic ex-husband, and Dacasco's character isn't as prominent in the movie as you may imagine. But there are a lot more problems than the ones I just described. This is a really low budget movie, which results in shoddy cinematography, sometimes poorly recorded audio, and some real cheesy production values. But even a higher budget would have still resulted in a screenplay which has some really laughable plot turns and actions by the characters. If there had been some more, I might have recommended this movie as an unintentional comedy, but as it is, kill any thought of watching it. By the way, if you are thinking of renting the movie because it reunites the two stars of the cult hit "Drive", know that Kadeem Hardison doesn't have that much screen time and only shares two brief scenes with Dacascos.

WANTED: Mercenary. REQUIREMENTS: (1) Must be able to hit his targets with a handgun, or at least come close to them. (2) Must be able to maintain emotional distance with his clients, or at least be able to control them to the point that the clients do not become a liability.

Too bad. I've always liked Mark Dacascos. This film just did not do it for me. It has a lot of good merits but certain obvious things were enough to turn me off to it. I expected more from the police detective. The lack of graphic violence is good, since the story involves lots of violence. I could see the ending coming too easily.

This movie is the PREDICTABLE Hollywood CRAP where the BAD GUY gets away with murder SO MANY times due to the inability of the GOOD GUYS to fire their weapon with even BASIC MARKSMANSHIP SKILLS!!!

This movie was SO frustrating that I "fast forwarded" through the BS after the first FIVE times the BAD GUY "successfully" dodged a hail of pistol fire being fired at him FROM JUST ACROSS THE ROOM!

The ONLY redeeming scene was where the BAD GUYS WIFE NAIL him with ONE SHOT in the end!

I would have LOVED to have the Director in my living room so I could "Bitch slap" this idiot every time he wasted my time with "unrealistic" scenes!

Your typical guy movie! Nudity, fight scenes, explosions, blood, sex, bullets flying by your head, chase scenes, fire, more explosions, and some decent acting as well. Instinct to Kill stars Tracy Ryan and Missy Crider as the eye candy. Crider is best remembered for her red-headed performance as Powder's love interest in the under appreciated, POWDER. Since then, she has lost some weight and done a number of interesting, action films. Both Crider and Ryan make the movie watchable. Started slow and ended fast, the movie has its moments. Overall, if you're up around 3am and there's nothing else to watch on cable, this movie is the best!

Lisa Gardner's novel, "The Perfect Husband", upon which this movie is stupid movie based, is a MASTERPIECE. This is knockoff GARBAGE, FULL of plot holes! Most of the events in the movie never even happened in the novel, and many key characters and sequences of events in the book were just plain not in the movie! Boooooooooo! If you REALLY want to experience this story the RIGHT way, you really OUGHT to just read the book. Lisa Gardner is the QUEEN of crime thrillers! And then read all the rest of her books in order in which they were published if you're intrigued by "The Perfect Husband" novel.