The Killer’s Game (2024)

🎯 Overview

The Killer’s Game is a 2024 American action-comedy thriller directed by J.J. Perry, based on the 1997 novel by Jay Bonansinga. The screenplay was written by Rand Ravich and James Coyne. The film features a star-studded cast including Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, Pom Klementieff, and Ben Kingsley.

The movie premiered in theaters on September 13, 2024, followed by a digital release in early October. It is expected to stream on Starz in 2025.

🧠 Plot Summary

Joe Flood, played by Dave Bautista, is a skilled hitman based in Budapest. He falls in love with a ballet dancer named Maize (Sofia Boutella). After being told he has a fatal brain disease (Creutzfeldt–Jakob), Joe decides to go out on his own terms—he hires an elite assassin, Marianna (Pom Klementieff), to kill him so his life insurance policy can benefit Maize.

But there’s a twist: the diagnosis was a mistake.

Now, Joe is the target of hundreds of contract killers, all eager to collect the bounty. As chaos erupts and assassins close in, Joe must protect Maize and fight for his own life—turning from hunter to hunted. With each passing moment, the price on his head increases, and the battles grow more deadly.

🎭 Cast & Characters

• Dave Bautista as Joe Flood – A top-level assassin with a heart

• Sofia Boutella as Maize – A ballet dancer and Joe’s love interest

• Pom Klementieff as Marianna – A deadly assassin hired to take Joe out

• Ben Kingsley as Zvi Rabinowitz – Joe’s mentor and handler

• Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, and Marko Zaror appear as rival assassins with distinct personalities and fighting styles

🎬 Production Details

• Director: J.J. Perry

• Cinematography: Flavio Martínez Labiano

• Music: Roque Baños

• Production Companies: Mad Chance, Dogbone Entertainment, Endurance Media

• Distributor: Lionsgate (USA), Amazon MGM Studios (International)

• Runtime: Approximately 104 minutes

• Budget: Estimated at $30 million

• Box Office: Grossed around $5.9 million worldwide

⭐ Critical Reception

Critics gave the film mixed reviews. While audiences enjoyed the fast-paced action and Bautista’s charismatic performance, critics noted issues such as:

• Weak script and shallow character development

• Visually dull cinematography, despite the exotic European setting

• CGI effects that lacked polish

• Predictable plot twists and underused emotional themes

However, the film gained praise for:

• Creative action choreography

• Strong stunt work

• The romantic subplot, which added a unique emotional dimension

🎯 Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Bautista’s emotional performance

• Unique premise blending romance with assassin action

• Stylish assassin face-offs and hand-to-hand combat

Weaknesses:

• Flat story structure and pacing issues

• Generic villains and forgettable supporting characters

• Overuse of action clichés

🏁 Final Thoughts

The Killer’s Game aims to be a stylish action-romance with emotional depth and intense fight sequences. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of genre-defining films, it offers solid entertainment for fans of high-stakes action and quirky assassin comedies. Dave Bautista shines in a more layered role, proving he’s more than just muscle.