FrightFest Review: 68 Kill (2017)

Chip is in love with Liza and reluctantly agrees to go along with her plan to steal $68,000 from her sugar daddy. From there, through a series of encounters, Chip's life begins to crumble...

Since Tarantino came along with Reservoir Dogs, film companies have often looked for a film that is similar, a mix of violence, humour and outlandish characters. In some ways, 68 Kill is closer to the Tarantino scripted, Tony Scott directed True Romance, but it is definitely its own thing.

The story, is really how Chip descends into a hell of sorts, led by the women he meets. Liza is clearly psychotic, but Chip loves her. But when the robbery turns bloody then into a kidnapping, Chip falls for Violet, the kidnap victim, when it becomes clear what Liza and her brother have planed for her.

For the first half of the film there is a lot of humour in the film, balancing out the humour. But then it changes and the film does get a bit more serious, even though there is still some humour there leading up to the final, bloody act.

The film is based on a novel by Bryan Smith and written and directed by Trent Haaga. It's a well scripted film, the story flows well and as director, Haaga tells it well. He's helped by having a terrific cast involved.

Matthew Gray Gubler, best known for his work on Criminal Minds, is good as the hapless Chip, in way over his head but still wanting to do the right thing. AnnaLynne McCord is Liza and is great, in turn a threat and also affectionate to Chip. Alisha Boe makes an impression as Violet, the kidnap victim who isn't as cowering as first thought. Sheila Vand plays Monica, a woman who gets involved in the second half of the story and she too is good as a woman just as menacing as Liza to Chip.The film is really about these woman and there effect in Chip, leading to a nice little pay-off gag at the end.

It's a violent, funny, twisted little film, one that I was caught off guard by, in a good way. I suspect that it might get overlooked as a Tarantino inspired knock-off and get lost in the sea of them that has come along.

I hope not as 68 Kill is well worth a look.

Rating - 4/5