CULT KILLER
(director: Jon Keeyes; screenwriter: Charles Burnley; cinematographer: Austin F. Schmidt; editor: R.J. Cooper; music: Gerry Owens; cast: Alice Eve (Cassie Holt), Antonio Banderas (Mikael Tallini, P.I. mentor), Shelley Henning (Jaimie Douglas), Olwen Fouere (Dottie Evans), Kim Delonghi (Wallace), Nick Dunning (Edgar Evans), Paul Reid (Detective Sergeant Rory McMahon), Kwaku Fortune (Glen), John Wollman (Dexter Conell), Matthew Tompkins (Victor Harrison), Patrick Buchanan (Liam), Ciaran McGlynn (Cillian), Daniel Carlin (Aidan), Chris Mohan (Sluggo), Sophie Amber (Connie), Daire McMahon (Armed Garda), Aoife Kelly (Aisling); Runtime: 104; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Jordan Yale Levine, Jordan Beckerman, Richard Bolger, Conor Barry, Richard Clabaugh, Michael J. Rothstein; Saban Films; 2024)
“At best a run-of-the-mill film.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A nineties-type of violent B-film thriller. It’s at best a run-of-the-mill film.
Cult killer is directed by the so-so filmmaker known for horror and thrillers, Jon Keeyes (“Doom Room”/”Rogue Hostage”), and is written by Charles Burnley. The story tells of a tense partnership between a library researcher and a possible killer, as they work together to obtain an evil cult’s secrets so they can put them out of business.
Cassie Holt (Alice Eve) dwells in a small English village. She is healing from trauma and is a recovering alcoholic. At the pub she hangs out at, we learn through flashback that she years ago met the kindly private detective Mikhail Tellini (Antonio Banderas) and worked for him as a researcher, and through his encouragement eventually became a private detective he mentors.
When Tellini is stabbed to death, Cassie vows to get the killer. While investigating the murder, Cassie works with the local policeman, Detective-Sergeant Rory McMahon (Paul Reid). Their info leads them to the estate of the wealthy Edgar (Nick Dunning) and Dottie (Olwen Fouere). Also present is the couple’s lawyer Victor (Matthew Tompkins). At the estate Cassie meets the angry young woman, Jamie (Shelley Henning), who vows to kill Edgar and Dottie for ruining her life in their sex slavery ring. Cassie and Jamie make a connection and team up to get the killer, either by killing or arresting him.
Keyes never could flesh out the characters, the flashbacks were clunky and the non-linear dull story was unnecessarily confusing. The decent acting by Alice Eve, the twist and the violent third act, give the forgettable bad film at least something to be remembered for.
REVIEWED ON 1/20/2024 GRADE: C