(image courtesy of RLJE Films)
Title: Kill Order
Director: James Mark
Fight Directors: Chris Mark, Kenji Sato, Koichi Funyama, Eric Daniel and Team 2X
Starring: Denis Akiyama, Jonny Caines, Scott Cavalheiro, Jessica Clement, Chris Mark, Daniel Park, Alain Moussi, James Mark
Plot: Shy high school student David (Chris Mark) is plagued by visions of violence and destruction. When his class is besieged by agents, led by Captain Williams (Alain Moussi), David springs into action with deadly precision. This event begins a journey which leads David to discover his past, his purpose and a fight to protect himself and his loved ones from enhanced human weapons of mass destruction bent on bringing David back at all costs.
Fight Content:
Kill Order delivers hyper-kinetic, well-paced fights with inventive choreography as well as the use of special effects for our enhanced protagonist and his opponents. Fight choreographers Mark, Sato, Funyama, Daniel and Team 2X gives us a mixture of tricking, weapons work, MMA, Tae Kwon Do and boxing in the fights. Stand out fights include the first battle in David’s apartment with one of the enhanced assassins where they go from fisticuffs to swords all the while destroying tables, chairs and walls! I really like the use of the wire rigging for the “pull back” effect when an enhanced fighter “powers up” to deliver a bone crushing blow. The fight directors do this well in Kill Order; it is not overdone and really builds anticipation to when the viewer will see these power blows. The fights were well staged and they fit in organically with the story and didn’t feel “outside” of the story or characters. The fights scenes also had a subtle Anime element to them with the use of special effects when the enhanced combats would clench a fist or assume a stance to power up. Kill order has top notch fights that are well paced and varied in length to drive home the level of danger David is facing. While I was not familiar with the work of these fight choreographers before Kill Order, I eagerly anticipate watching more of their work.
Review:
Kill Order is an ambitious film from director James Mark. Kill Order merges martial arts action, science fiction and Japanese Anime elements to good effect. The plot of Kill Order starts simple
but it builds step-by-step to something bigger and more creative than your average by the numbers sci-fi. The pacing of the introduction of new locations and characters is steady and not rushed, even though there is a much to tell and see. For example, when we are introduced to Shiro Fujitaka (Denis Akiyama), Yin (James Mark) and the 5 Elders, we know there is a much bigger world in Kill Order and forces us to ask questions about that world (or Universe) that only a sequel or sequels could answer.
Recommendation:
Sci-Fi, Anime and Martial Arts movie fans will rejoice at Kill Order. It has enough elements of all those genres to satisfy eager fans of each or all. The tightly choreographed fights, the subtle plot twists complete with satisfying surprises, and the teasing of a much bigger world makes Kill Order and above average Indy sci-fi action film. RLJE Films has a winner on their hands and Kill Order deserves a place on your shelf or in your download queue. Kill Order is available on DVD, Digital Download and VOD February 6, 2018.