THE HUNTER’S PRAYER

US, 2017, 91 minutes, Colour.
Sam Worthington, Odeya Rush, Allen Leech, Amy Landdecker, Martin Compston.
Directed by Jonathan Mostow.

This film takes its audience into familiar material, the hired assassin, his refusing to kill his target, bonding with her, the possibility for a different life. Something of this is suggested in the title, with a focus on prayer – and the possibility for the assassin to experience a kind of redemption.

The film was directed by Jonathan Mostow, who made the submarine film you-571 as well as Terminator 3.

Sam Worthington is very serious as the assassin, a man who has experienced grief, has a drug addiction, a wealthy British businessman having a hold over him – as well as a hold over other assassins and a rogue FBI agent.

Odyea Rush is the daughter of wealthy American businessman who is assassinated, is away at a Swiss finishing school, goes on the run with the assassin, through Switzerland, France, the English Channel to Leeds.

When she learns the truth, she asks the hitman about his motivation for killing and she intends to kill the British businessman. She is abducted, taken to his mansion, the assassin following and coming into a lavish social reception – which leads to a shootout, the girl killing the businessman.

She is to make a new life – and persuades the assassin to contact the daughter he has not known.

1. Familiar themes of assassins, their targets, transformation? Variations on the theme?

2. The title, the assassin as Hunter? Change of heart – prayer? Discovery of redemption?

3. The American mansion and the assassinations? The wealthy Swiss boarding school? The Swiss countryside, France? The English Channel, on the boat? Leeds and the English tone? The final scene on the cliffs? The atmosphere? The musical score?

4. The killings, the motivation of the assassin, money, drug dependence and supply?

5. The opening assassination, the American couple? The money dealings and swindles? Richard Addison, the British background, his control? Sending out assassins? For the couple? For Ella? The range of assassins, the use of the FBI agent?

6. Ella, the death of her family, her not knowing, at school in Switzerland, with a fellow students, going out, the nightclub, the attempt on her life, Lucas following her, rescuing her? Her fears? Lucas not killing her, shooting the other assassins? The decision about transferring her, in the boot of the car, crossing the border?

7. Lucas, Sam Worthington, professional assassin, his drug dependence, the story of his past and relationships, the daughter never seen? The money, his success in his career? Targeting Ella, not killing her? The reasons? His shooting the others, putting her in the boot of the car, the interview with Addison, his being dismissed by him?

8. Travel through Switzerland, France, on the boat on the English Channel? Going to Leeds? Ella, his shielding her, her asking him about his motivation, asking about the gun, her intending to shoot Addison, the training – and the irony of her still having the gun with a bullet in it?

9. Addison, his mansion and high life, the money deals, his cover? The FBI agent and the phone calls? The other assassins? The plan to abduct Ella, her father putting the money in her bank account? The FBI agent taking her, Ella shrewd about the airport, their abducting her?

10. Lucas, the drugs, his daughter, motivations, Ella challenging him? His following her, shooting the guards at the gate, infiltrating the party?

11. Addison, his gun, Lucas overpowering him, freeing Ella? The shootouts of the deaths, the assassin, the FBI agent? Ella, drawing the gun, shooting Addison?

12. Ella saved, having a new life? The phone call to Lucas, encouraging him?

13. Lucas, going to the grave, the visit to find out his daughter?

14. The title, a theme of redemption?