Sometimes, a film star can come out of nowhere and knock you off your feet. In the Indian Hindi-language action thriller Kill, Lakshya is that man. A relative unknown, he has burst onto the scene with his granite jaw, perfect five-o’clock shadow, and a thick head of hair that hardly bristles as he caves someone’s chest in with a powerful kick or cracks a skull with an iron fist.
After watching Kill, viewers may enjoy the adrenaline-pumping, bone-crunching, knuckle-busting, and lip-splitting escapism. The type that drags its villains across some cheap train carpet, leaving the taste of rug burn in their mouths and shards of glass in their foreheads (or, in this case, hatchets, knives, bullets, and a whole lot of hammers).
Kill’s Review and Synopsis
It’s an action story as old as time. A special forces commando named Amrit (Lakshya) returns after going dark for a couple of weeks following a secret Army mission. He turns on his cell phone after his best friend and brother-in-arms, Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan), tells him his girlfriend has been desperately trying to reach him.
Dozens of texts from the love of his life, Tulika (Tanya Maniktala), populate his phone. Tulika’s family has arranged for her to be engaged to another man. However, she tells her baby sister Aahna (Adrija Sinha) that while she may become engaged to whoever her father (Harsh Chhaya) wants, Amrit is the only man she will marry.
They arrange to elope the next day. Tulika and her family ride first class, while Amrit and Viresh take the cheap seats. However, some knife-wielding modern-day bandits soon take over the New Delhi-bound train. Led by the deranged Fani (a ruthless Raghav Juyal), Amrit summons his inner Steven Seagal, fighting his way through bad guys to save the woman he loves.
Kill is One of the Year’s Very Best Action Films!
And that’s how Kill pulls you in, gripping you by the throat and refusing to let go. This action-spectacular is a vengeful thriller fueled by adrenaline, revenge, and love. The Hindi language action film Kill, written and directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat (Hurdang), delivers an impressive action-film experience as Bhat’s script continually finds ways to top itself.
I would dare say Kill takes real chances with its script, making bold storytelling choices that most films wouldn’t dare attempt because they often opt for a patronizing cinematic ending. Yet, Bhat manages to deliver fresh storytelling while still providing the viewer with a poignant ending that touches on the heart of what drives the main character.
Moreover, Kill features some of the most jaw-dropping, brutal action scenes in recent memory. It is a thrilling, pulse-pounding, and electrifying action film that takes no prisoners. The only thing I would have wanted more of is a deeper subtext exploring significant genre themes, such as historical and political context and socioeconomic disparities, especially to flesh out the villains more fully.
Is Kill Worth Watching?
Even if the villains are one-note, including a manically entertaining turn by Raghav Juyal, Kill is worth watching because of its bold script and a star-making action performance from Lakshya. You’ll probably hear many tired comparisons likening this film to a video game. It’s not. Bhat manages to steer characters in unexpected directions, which intensifies the stakes.
This includes a shocking development at the 42-minute mark when the film’s title card finally appears. The sequence is ruthless; it’s not just that it happens, but how it unfolds pulls no punches. It sets the tone for the next hour as if the first section wasn’t thrilling enough. It’s rare for a film to evoke genuine stakes, revitalizing the cliche.
Kill is one of the year’s very best action films, despite the overtly gruesome action that could have been pulled back a bit and sometimes leans towards the gratuitous. However, Invigeorting and with a moving ending, this is a ride worth taking.
You can watch the new action spectacular film Kill, only in theaters on July 3.
8/10
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