Kill Chain (2019) User Reviews

Gets better as it goes along

[jtindahouse · 6/10 · 20 October 2019]

'Kill Chain' is going to lose some audience members in the first 15 minutes. It gets off to a very sloppy start. After the opening scene, a bizarre opening credits and then another awkward scene I thought I was in for a very long 90 minutes. But then the film found its rhythm and things began to click. Ryan Kwanten entered the film, in possible the best segment of the movie, and suddenly the movie wasn't seeming so bad. It's far from a masterpiece but it is a film that gets better and better as it goes along.

This movie takes itself very seriously. There isn't a single occasion in the entire movie I can remember where they try to make you laugh. Nicolas Cage, who is becoming synonymous with ultra violent revenge flicks it seems, is still a very watchable actor. He slips on the occasional line, but for the most part he's a stand-out in any scene he's in and he's not phoning it in.

The film turned out to be smarter than I expected it to be. Everything wraps itself together in quite a clever and creative way. If you don't need your films to be beautifully shot or have impeccable dialogue, and you're willing to get down and gritty in the seedy underbelly of a film, then this could just be the one for you. It won't be for everyone, but it is certainly watchable enough for a pass mark.

This was actually decent and I'm shocked

[calicut110 · 6/10 · 20 October 2019]

So Nicholas Cage won an Oscar and pretty soon after his career plummeted. His films in the last few years are quite terrible and I'm actually a fan of his. I was pleasantly surprised by Kill Chain. The story, acting, direction and production value are all worthy of an Oscar winner. So great work Nick! I hope this is the start of a turn around and back into higher quality films.

No Frills Noirish Assassin Film

[truemotion · 6/10 · 19 October 2019]

A simple plot is buoyed along by good pacing and decent action. Action peaks at the right time, and the acting is solid for the most part, with uneven performances in spots. Its simplicity and well-portioned atmosphere and action make this a fairly enjoyable watch and above average.

Was in a mood to watch a B movie, especially of Nic Cage n action oriented but got cheated. Nic is ther only for few mins n the action is almost nada.

[Fella_shibby · 5/10 · 23 October 2019]

This film also lacks Nic snorting coke n his long face with wide eyeballs.

Who puts a title credit right after introducing characters, creating suspense n then suddenly an incoherent plot with loopholes. The story takes place in the course of a night, which isnt a bad thing but most of the scenes r shot in the dark with horrendous editing. Worse than hand held camera.

Nic Cage is a fine A grade actor who does a lot of B-movies but I wouldn't classify him as a B-actor but I hope he doesn't end up in an Asylum or SyFy movie or a Bollywood film. His B movies r better than Bruce Willis, Wesley Snipes, Steven Segal, Van Damme etc.

Generous with 5 cos of Nic in a new avatar, a beard n large frame spectacles.

Motel Killer

[kosmasp · 4/10 · 4 October 2020]

You can say a lot of things about Nicolas Cage and his recent output of movies, which put Steven Seagal to shame - and not in a good way. What you can't say is that he's phoning them in. Well not entirely and not convincing either most of the time. Still, like Seagal who'd say no to money offeered to shoot in beaufitul cities/countries, with some good looking (female) cast members? Maybe only the geographical aspect of it, convinces you, maybe just the money, maybe you like the company of women. Nothing wrong with either of those things in particular (consent would be one in the latter of course).

A few things wrong with the characters he portrays though. Then again, this has enough nudity and violence to keep you busy and not minding whatever this is about ... or not. Cage can play and is good when in movies that have a certain quality ... this is direct to video fodder. Nothing less and nothing more either

Very strange movie wouldn't say its terrible or good.

[Brooklynsmagicmike · 5/10 · 25 December 2020]

I knew when I started watching this film It was going to be a low budget B-movie. With that said I decided to give it a chance regardless. Upon conclusion I was so mixed on this film.

First of all this movie was all over the place. Alot different interchanging characters who you really couldn't care less what happens to them or not. The dialogue itself was very bizarre throughout and the movie diddn't have set pace. It'd go from draggy to engaging and then repeat this cycle.

However there were things I enjoyed. The action when it was happening was entertaining. Nicholas Cage was about the only actor I liked in this film and thought he did decent job with the source material he was provided.

Overall its definitely not a movie you'd watch ever again or tell friends about but it isn't the worst to watch either.

It's a good film

[mjsreg · 7/10 · 21 October 2019]

This is another film that doesn't deserve the lowish rating it has.

The story is interesting and intricate enough to keep the viewer's attention, and the acting is superb with all of the cast giving believable performances.

Combine that with beautiful gritty visuals and it is one of the better thriller/action movies of recent times.

Badly written

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 27 October 2019]

KILL CHAIN is a sample of cheapjack nonsense from Cinetel Films. It stars a big and bearded Nicolas Cage - so rarely that it's little more than an extended cameo at times - as one of a large cast involved in a twisty-turny plot involving criminal enterprises, gangsters, and the usual such genre constructions. It's cheap beyond belief, mainly consisting of boringly repetitive dialogue between dull, paper-thin characters. In order to make up for the many deficiancies, ample amounts of sex and violence are added to the mix, but the end result is an aimless, badly-written piece of nonsense and one of Cage's worst.

U won't get bored tho

[hapsultimate · 7/10 · 19 October 2019]

Has a good script, screen play and actors have done justice to their roles.

But the story don't have much in it

But it's a fine thriller

Didn't have anything special about it, but you won't think that u have waisted time by watching this

Will definitely recommend it

NOT SO GOOD

[watcher2019 · 4/10 · 19 October 2019]

No i was not impressed with this nic cage film. Lots of blood and violence and there is a story, just not a very good one. Nic can do better than this. quite boring i almost nodded off twice.

Why is everyone bagging on this film?

[richtygart · 8/10 · 2 November 2019]

I went ahead and watched anyway and I really liked it. I have learned that if Rotten Tomatoes gives a movie 5 stars, it's probably terrible and in this case most critics disliked it. I thought it was one of Cage's better movies in a long time. I got into it right off the bat. I also say that as a picky person on films. This movie was very good.

Flawed, but surprisingly better than I expected

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 23 October 2019]

The acting, directing and cinematography were great, but the writing had some issues with convoluted and long dragged out scenes. Too much time was spent on story-telling and not enough on what was actually happening and the parties that were involved. The 91 min length felt a little long with such a simplistic story and its slow pace. Still, Cage and Acosta where great together in that cool hotel production set. Had the writing been tighter, this would've been a hit. It's a 7/10 from me.

Worth a watch

[adityakes-35741 · 5/10 · 25 October 2019]

When it started, the opening credits looked pretty amateurish and I didn't have high hopes. But as it developed it got better and better. Still not incredible but a solid 5 rating action and worth a watch for a reasonably interesting story-line.

Shaky cam strikes again...

[ronniactor · 1/10 · 5 December 2020]

Managed half an hour, but I couldn't watch any more because of the constant, violently shaking camera. It's so distracting, you can't focus on anything or connect with the characters! Use a damn tripod, PLEASE.

Trivial, pointless and without a sense direction...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 21 April 2020]

Right, well first of all this is a Nicolas Cage movie, and that in itself is already enough to make me stop up and have doubts. But I must say that I liked the movie's poster/cover. And I am usually one to give a movie a fair chance, so I sat down and watched this 2019 movie "Kill Chain" from writer and director Ken Sanzel.

Turns out that this movie was driven by a rather pointless and uneventful storyline. Sure Ken Sanzel tries to set up a lot of different angles and story arches, but it just felt trivial, pointless and rather muddied. The movie was lacking a proper red thread to take the audience through the course of the movie.

I will say that the production value of "Kill Chain" was good, and they had some nicely casted actors and actresses to perform in the movie. And truth be told, then this was actually one of Nicolas Cage's more toned-down and watchable performances - him not being his usual whacky self (if that makes any sense).

But entertainment-wise, then "Kill Chain" failed to deliver. I sat through the entire movie, but it was a prolonged experience, and I can't really claim that I was particularly entertained.

I am rating "Kill Chain" a mere three out of ten stars, and can honestly say that this is not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time. This wasn't Nicolas Cage's finest moment, not by a long shot - but on the other hand, nor was it his most atrocious either.

Nick Cage's contribution to Medical Science

[ricksarkar666 · 2/10 · 22 October 2019]

This movie will put you to sleep if you are suffering from acute insomnia. Literally. This one is a borefest with aome action going on in between. But i dont think anyone can finish the whole movie cz as soon as Nickky Boy walks in with that same facial expressions that he been doing in all that B movies since 2017 expect "Mandy".. I dont how much he is in debt, but this movie will knock you out like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill 1

solid

[lifelinespublishing · 7/10 · 28 October 2019]

I gave this film a solid 7/10 because of how the story was thoroughly narrated, The Director made sure all the bases were covered and how the characters were interconnected in the story, solid acting by Nic Cage and company as well.

overall, a must see film for action / thriller fans who want to be entertained and with a good story.

Complete waste of time and resources

[carlos-pires · 1/10 · 26 October 2019]

I give it 9 stars for production design and cinematography... and -10 for everything else. This is yet another pretty crappy production with Nicholas Cage. I guess Nicholas Cage should now be counted not as a movie star, but instead as a movie black hole. This movie is so bad, I don't know what is its worse part: 3rd rate actors? fantastically farfetched plot? completely unbelievable one-dimensional characters? brain-dead idiotic dialog? Take your pick. Just don't waste your time watching this crap.

One of Cage's better films as of late.

[jordondave-28085 · 6/10 · 31 March 2023]

(2019) Kill Chain ACTION THRILLER

Written and directed by Ken Sanzel has Araña (Nicolas Cage), an owner/ manager of run down hotel building with an open bar, when Renata (Anabelle Acosta) stepped in. Some violent shootings happened in which she looses her spouse as viewers learned she was given orders to stop by at that specific hotel. And it was then two pre-paid hitman of (Alimi Ballard) and (Pedro Calvo) coming along with them is a dangerous woman played by Angie Cepeda as we learn more about Araña's violent history and his involvement toward the characters. This is an unique set up in which viewers are oblivious of the Nicolas Cage character himself.

Too slow for me

[rpahlow-13708 · 5/10 · 5 December 2019]

It was all I could do to stay awake. I usually don't like movies that show how they got to the beginning. This was just such a movie.

Weird Start That Comes Together

[Ziglet_mir · 8/10 · 21 October 2019]

"Kill Chain" is a simple yet aptly named thriller that begins slowly and oddly, almost stumbling until the 4th or 5th scene when we can recognize the pattern of what's going on. The strongest section of the film is definitely the final 30 minutes that is taken over by Cage with force and some striking charisma.

At times the camera is a bit hard to follow and the supporting characters may be a tad weak, but nothing that really takes away from the enjoyment of this thriller. Even with the sprawling plot points between all of the characters, the story comes together even leaving it open to have a sequel.

Cage seems to be on a roll as of late coming out with Mandy, Mom & Dad, Color Out of Space and now this. I hope this trend continues and we see Cage return to his glory days even if he is super enjoyable as the macro-meme mascot of the internet.

8/10

I really liked it

[trailerfreak · 7/10 · 12 January 2020]

It kept me interested and I could not stop watching it. It makes sense in the end. And me I enjoyed the performance by Nicholas Cage.

It was ok.

[jcq101 · 4/10 · 22 November 2019]

Not amazing, but ok. Nick Cage needs the money. He brings some star power to an otherwise mediocre film. Beyond that, it was ordiyand predictable.

Senility

[scott-hunter-iii · 2/10 · 24 November 2019]

Not sure how it's possible, but this is worse than any past Cage movie. He's outdone himself, somehow.

Actually decent, if you can lower your standards a bit

[cheekyfilm · 4/10 · 2 February 2020]

Nic Cage with another low budget "movie with guns" B-Movie, and another Saturn Films production. He shot this back to back with the much-worse "Running with the devil", seriously - skip that one and watch this instead. I wish Nic all the best with his financial troubles, but if the B-Movies keep coming then I cant complain.

This film is amateurish in some ways, awful music and sound design (the gun sound effects are good but everything else is muffled) and some cheesy sets, but it's somehow better than the sum of its parts. The plot is full of disconnected threads, vaguely revolving around a diamond. The segments are like mini-movies, confusing me and leaving me hanging for half the running time. But these segments were well-written enough to keep me watching (and eventually it all came together).

Still, I kept wondering "Where the hell is Cage?" He shows up in the beginning and disappears for 45+ minutes. Typical of these recent Cage films, it feels like a bait and switch with him on the cover and the plot not really revolving around him. And with him executive producing it seems like he's doing a quick flip with some cheap actors. But he eventually comes back into the picture with his awful fake beard, a few "Cage moments" and some decent set pieces and writing.

On the Cage Scale this is a 7, but back in reality it's a 5. A mixed bag for sure, but worth it for Cagers. Give it a shot if you know what you're getting into