KILL RATIO
US, 2016, 87 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hopper, Amy Huberman, Nick Dunning, Lacey Moore.
Directed by Paul Tanter.
Kill Ratio is explained as something of a beyond-CIA license to kill. In fact, the suave hero – in the day-to-day sense – is modelled on James Bond and his action. He is an American, played by Tom Hopper (British) who could pass in casting as a brother for Alexander Skarsgaard. The other central character, Gabrielle, trying to arrange IT deals in the middle European country subject to a coup, is played by Abby Huberman (Irish) also acting as an American.
The action takes place overnight – stretching some credibility of the plot. However, while it is on the screen, it is one of those entertaining action shows of the straight-to-DVD style.
There is a beautiful mountain scenery to take us to central Europe but all the action was filmed in a hotel in Ireland, with a British and Irish cast.
The film has echoes of action in Eastern Europe – thinking of Ukrainian and Russian intervention as well as episodes in Georgia. While the film is macho action, two of the central characters are female, especially the president, which extends the range of audience interest to men and women.
Plenty of action, plenty of fighting, the high body count amongst the masked revolutionary soldiers as well as, course, the leaders of the coup.
1. Popular action show? Straight to DVD style? Central European political action?
2. The title, the meaning – beyond CIA and unlimited kills? The modelling of 007? Yet in T-shirt and jeans?
3. The mountain scenery and setting and atmosphere? The hotel? All the action taking place in the interiors of the hotel? The views of the city under fire? The musical score?
4. The opening, Gabrielle and her deals, James as the fixer? Her anxiety, his calming attitude, the arrival of the guests, the president, out of prison, her speech? The interruption, the attack on the city? The arrival of the military, the general?
5. The occupation of the hotel, the motivations? The planned announcement of the coup in the morning? The irony of Gabrielle sent away, the explosion, encountering the president, wounded, brought to the hotel, James tending her wounds?
6. The picture of the uprising, the masked military and their weapons, Zaghov present at the speeches, his return, his command, the fight with James, the laundry chute, his being tied up, later found by the military and going back into action? The arrival of the general, his arrogance, his plans? This calls, the president hidden in the bath…? The role of the International fixer, deals, the encounter with James, James spinning the story about counter plots? His eventually being shot by the general?
7. Gabrielle, using her wits, cleaning up the room and covering the blood? The attack by the military, the sexual attack, cancer ring the phone, the president, shooting the soldier? Making their way to the penthouse to make the speech?
8. The brutality of the soldiers, James rescuing the maid from the attack? The later shooting the general – and her gratitude?
9. James using his wits, the one-man attack and defence force, the body count? The final confrontation with the general, the swords, the fight?
10. The president, making a speech on the television, her promises?
11. Everything happening overnight, the plausibility of the plot, and a happy ending for James and Gabrielle?
