Director: Jonnie Malachi
Writer: Jonnie Malachi (Screenplay)
Starring: Craig Fairbrass, Emmett J Scanlan, James Cosmo, Mem Ferda, Tamer Hassan, Olivia Grant, Bruce Payne
Plot: A professional contract killer, haunted by visions of his violent past, spirals out of control. His work compromised as he reaches breaking point, he is forced to defend his family from his ruthless employers.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Slow Burning Crime Thriller
Story: Breakdown starts as we see how contract killer Alfie (Fairbrass) starts getting visions of his previous kills, this compromises his life and family time when he shows this weakness on front of his boss Albert (Cosmo).
Needing to prove himself to Albert and one of the best clients they have Iraz (Hassan), Alfie must complete a cold-hearted execution on his daughter’s 16th birthday. The test is just the beginning as Alfie wants out of the crime life but his boss isn’t as happy to let him go.
Thoughts on Breakdown
Characters – Alfie is the contract killer and family man, he has balanced the two lives well but now he starts to get nightmare visions of his previous kills, Alfie now wants out and his family is the reason that he must go through on final mission to kill to end the threat to them. Connor is the partner of Alfie, he is younger and seems to have learnt from Alfie over the years. Albert is the crime boss living in a mansion turning to the few men he trusts for the more difficult jobs.
Performance – Craig Fairbrass is fine in the leading role working around his weaknesses to look the part, Emmett makes for a good partner in crime but doesn’t shine the way he could have and James Cosmo is good as the gang leader.
Story – The story is a tried and tested formula, hit man wants out of the business but the boss won’t let him, this time we do get a slight twist on why he wants out but otherwise this doesn’t offer too much on the fresh side.
Thriller – The film does try to keep you on the edge of the seat but the slow pacing holds everything back for the most part.
Settings – We have the settings that you would have come to expect as we see the two lives the kill works in, but no iconic scenes to be had here.
Special Effects – The effects are used for the most part in the visions side of things and are fine when they are used.
Final Thoughts – This is a by the books hitman wanting out of the business film that doesn’t offer enough fresh but is still going to be enjoyed by the fans of the genre.
Overall: By the book crime thriller.
Rating
