Kill

Kill (2023)

Runtime: 105 minutes

Directed by: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Starring: Lakshya Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, Tanya Maniktala, Abhishek Chauhan, Ashish Vidhyarthi

From: It was released in the United States by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, believe it or not

Those that dreamed of an Indian The Raid, prepare to be satisfied.

In this super-early Wednesday post (someone has to be dropped off at the airport, then I’ll be doing other activities elsewhere, possibly not returning home until late in the evening), I discuss a movie from India that isn’t the masala-style entertainment which blends together different genres, has musical numbers, and is 2 ½ to 3 hours long like many in the West stereotype every movie from that country as, when of course this has never been the case. It’s styled like one of those dark, gruesome action-thrillers from Southeast Asia and is only 105 minutes in length.

 

Still, some traits synonymous with that country’s cinema are expressed here. In this Hindi-language effort, a pair of commandos (the lead character is Amrit) are on a train to New Delhi; other passengers include Amrit’s girlfriend Tulika, who is part of a wealthy family and has an arranged engagement with someone else. Also on board: bandits who wish to steal everyone’s money/valuables. Naturally, things quickly spiral out of control and by the end, there are not only a plethora of kills, many areas of the train’s floor looked like the floor of a slaughterhouse.

 

For about the first 45 minutes, the movie was quite thrilling; the train itself has a narrow alleyway as seating/bedding is on either side. Thus, there is plenty of close-quarters fighting, which was done in a thrilling manner where many dudes get wrecked ™. Then, a certain moment happens, and the tone changes. Suddenly, more deaths occur, and the action becomes REALLY gruesome. As the sound design and music are both aces, it augments all the brawls, stabbings, hammer blows, usage of a fire extinguisher, and other implements.

 

A key aspect: like in many Indian movies, melodrama is used unironically. It seemed as if many if not all of the members of the bandits were related to one another, or at least there were plenty of fathers with their sons, along with brothers working together in their scheme. When there’s death on either side, expect plenty of anguish and “ugly crying.” This aspect is but one reason why Kill won me over.

 

Those that love graphically violent action pictures where one badass or a few badasses lay waste to evil SOB’s using just their bare hands, Kill is a no-brainer recommendation. In the next month or so, the plan is to see a few films from the country of India—more than a few from that country follow me but the entertainment value that some of their films provide is the best motivation for me to dip more of my toe in a vast universe.