Crime, Revenge, and Mystery Collide

Read Time:3 Minute, 37 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Cult Killer
–

Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director(s): Jon Keeyes
Writer(s): Charles Burnley
Cast: Alice Eve, Antonio Banderas, Shelley Hennig, Olwen Fouéré, Kim DeLonghi, Nick Dunning, Paul Reid, Kwaku Fortune
Where To Watch: coming to select theaters January 19th, 2024

RAVING REVIEW: CULT KILLER offers an unexpected and captivating crime thriller that entertains and delivers some strong performances. This film is directed by Jon Keeyes, whose name is synonymous with the horror and thriller genre, and takes us on a ride through mystery and revenge. In a complex role, Alice Eve, portraying the relentless private investigator Cassie Holt and Antonio Banderas, navigates a labyrinth of suspense and intrigue.

The movie's opening takes its time, exploring the characters and building the world they inhabit, but quickly ramps into a compelling, fast-paced narrative. Keeyes skillfully captures the nuanced relationship between Cassie and her mentor. The film's dialogue occasionally stumbles, but the overall narrative is bolstered by its innovative cinematography and engaging storytelling techniques.

In CULT KILLER, the present-day events mixed with flashbacks help to enrich the characters' backstories. This narrative choice, while sometimes leading to confusion, predominantly adds depth to the plot. Cassie's journey begins in earnest following a mystery as she delves into her mentor's last mysterious case involving the affluent Evans family.

Unexpected alliances and discoveries lead Cassie to a mysterious location where a chilling secret connected to the Evans family lies in wait. The film distinguishes itself in the genre through unique storytelling elements like split-screen conversations that were necessary for the production, a solution created to fix a problem that ultimately worked to perfection.

What makes CULT KILLER stand out is its ability to draw in an audience beyond the usual paint-by-number crime thriller. The film explores the lives of two women, each battling their traumas on opposite sides of the law, adding a depth rarely seen in crime dramas. However, the film sometimes leans too heavily on shock tactics at the expense of exploring its themes as profoundly as some would prefer.

The performances in CULT KILLER mix highs and lows. Antonio Banderas brings a magnetic presence to every scene, while Alice Eve's portrayal of Cassie reveals her considerable range as an actress. On the other hand, the antagonist's character needed a more robust dialogue and a better backstory.

With a runtime of just 105 minutes, CULT KILLER keeps the audience engaged but could have benefited from a longer duration to develop its storylines fully. It would be interesting to see if there was footage that could be worked into a director's cut down the road. Nevertheless, the film offers an intriguing mystery that will capture the attention of those willing to engage with its complex narrative. The film explores themes of revenge and anger, although some dialogue inadvertently edges towards comedy when it shouldn’t. Set against Ireland's brooding backdrop, CULT KILLER balances its dark tone with intense action and occasional lighter moments.

CULT KILLER emerges as a strong, albeit slightly flawed, entry into the crime thriller genre. It strikes a balance between suspense, character depth, and cinematic.

#CultKiller

For more reviews, please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestmr.

Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of SABAN FILMS]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive free items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl, Books, etc. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices, regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.