Kill (film)
Kill | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Nikhil Nagesh Bhat |
Written by | Story and Screenplay: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat Dialogues: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat Ayesha Syed |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Rafey Mehmood |
Edited by | Shivkumar V. Panicker |
Music by | Score: Ketan Sodha Songs:
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Production companies | |
Distributed by | AA Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 105 minutes[1] |
Country | India |
Language | Hindi |
Box office | est. ₹43.20 crore[2] |
Kill is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film written and directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and produced by Karan Johar, Guneet Monga, Apoorva Mehta and Achin Jain. The film stars Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Tanya Maniktala and Abhishek Chauhan.[3][4][5][6]
Kill premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2023, where it was first runner-up for the People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness.[7][8][9][10] It was also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024.[11][12][13] Kill was theatrically released on 5 July 2024 and received positive reviews from critics.
Premise
Amrit, an army commando, learns that his girlfriend Tulika is engaged against her will, where he boards a New Delhi-bound train in a daring quest to stop the marriage. However, a gang of knife-wielding bandits led by Fani begins to terrorize the passengers on the train, where Amrit and his friend Viresh takes on the bandits to save the passengers.[14]
Cast
- Lakshya as Amrit
- Raghav Juyal as Fani
- Tanya Maniktala as Tulika
- Abhishek Chauhan as Viresh
- Ashish Vidyarthi as Beni
- Adrija Sinha as Aahna
- Harsh Chhaya as Baldev Singh Thakur
- Avanish Pandey as TTE
- Parth Tiwari as Siddhi
- Akshay Vichare as Ujala
- Jitendra Kumar Sharma as Akhilesh Jha (RPF personnel)
- Rupesh Kumar Charanpahari as Bishnu
- Sahil Gangurde as Badlu
- Priyam Gupta as Kulli
- Vivek Kashyap as Mukund
- Sameer Kumar as Bechan
- Calib Logan as Brahmeshwar
- Moses Marton as Murari
- Riyaz Khan as Surajbhan
- Shakti Singh as Laddan
- Shivam Parmar as Amrit's friend
- Billal Kazi
Production
Less than a month prior to its premiere at Toronto, Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment announced the film Kill to be directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, as the first in a content partnership announced in May 2023.[15] In an interview with Subhash K. Jha, the director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat said that the actors had to be trained with MMA artists.[16] Bhat also said in an interview that "“Kill” was inspired by a real-life train robbery he experienced in 1995."[17]
Music
Song Nikat is sung by Rekha Bhardwaj and music of the song is composed by Haroon-Gavin and Lyrics written by Siddhant Kaushal.[18] Jaako Raakhe Saaiyan is composed by Vikram Montrose and written by Shekhar Astitwa.[19]
Kill | |
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Soundtrack album by | |
Released | 5 July 2024 |
Recorded | 2022–23 |
Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
Length | 12:58 |
Language | Hindi |
Label | Sony Music India |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Kill" (Kaawaa Kaawaa) | Shashwat Sachdev | Shashwat Sachdev | Sudhir Yaduvanshi, Sanj V, Shashwat Sachdev | 3:14 |
2. | "Nikat" | Siddhant Kaushal | Haroon-Gavin | Rekha Bhardwaj | 3:03 |
3. | "Jaako Raakhe Saaiyan" | Shekhar Astitwa | Vikram Montrose | Monu Rathod, Vikram Montrose | 3:37 |
4. | "Nikat" (Dance Version) | Siddhant Kaushal | Haroon-Gavin | Shashwat Singh | 3:04 |
Total length: | 12:58 |
Release
Kill premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2023. The film had a theatrical release in India on 5 July 2024.[20][21][22] In October 2023, Lionsgate acquired distribution rights to the film for North America and the United Kingdom, marking one of the first instances of a Hollywood studio acquiring a Hindi-language film to directly release in the United States.[23][24][25] The film released over 1000 screens across North America.[26] Lionsgate, in association with Roadside Attractions, later scheduled the film for a theatrical release in the United States on 4 July 2024, a day before its release in India.[27] AA Films have reportedly bought the distribution rights for Indian theatrical release. BF Distribution is set to release the film for an Argentina theatrical release on 5 September 2024.[28] Paris Filmes will release the film in Brazilian theaters on September 19, 2024.[29] Paradise Group acquired the distribution rights to release the film under the name of "схватка" in Russian theatres on 25 July 2024.[30]
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 91 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10. The website's consensus reads: "A relentless thrill ride grounded in raw emotional stakes, Kill serves up a knuckle sandwich that action fans will gleefully eat up."[31] Metacritic rated the film with a score of 74 out of 100, based on 18 critics, citing "generally favorable" reviews.[32]
Zinia Bandyopadhyay of India Today awarded the film 4.5/5 stars and wrote "This is an absolute must-watch for all fans of action and otherwise."[33] Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com rated 4/5 stars and observed "An ultra-violent film about violence, Kill's greatest accomplishment isn't its death count alone but to challenge our perception of violence".[34] Bollywood Hungama gave 3.5/5 and wrote "On the whole, Kill is a violent and stylish action entertainer."[35] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 3.5/5 stars and expressed "Kill has a moral compass, a clear context for the 'war' that unfolds."[36] Rishil Jogani of Pinkvilla gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Kill as a film could work even better with a denser plot and a more dreadful antagonist."[37] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express stated "‘Kill’ is a lean, mean killing machine."[38] Shilajit Mitra of The Hindu praised Lakshya's performance and expressed "Lakshya, heavily hyped as Hindi cinema’s new ‘killing machine’, is sweaty, strong and seething. The young actor spurns the athleticism of a Tiger Shroff or Vidyut Jammwal, opting instead for a more centred, abrasive fighting style."[39] Uday Bhatia of Mint observed "Kill isn't really a hell-yeah action film. There’s no slo-mo, no release, no breathing room."[40] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in commented "The most memorable scene in Kill lands it straight in horror territory."[41] Kartik Bhardwaj of The New Indian Express rated 4/5 stars and wrote "It weaves a narrative of its own. The fist fights and the flying kicks come first."[42]
Kill earned acclaim from international critics.[43][44]
Kim Newman of British Film Institute stated "The first half isn’t exactly slower, but basic relationships have to be established before the real action can start."[45] Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times rated the film R wrote "Manipulative to the max (one upsetting murder is almost pornographically protracted), “Kill” is dizzyingly impressive and punishingly vicious."[46] Catherine Bray of The Guardian opined "Kill’s objectives are achieved with an energy and enthusiasm that make it a tasty piece of action cinema which doesn’t pull its punches; it’s finger-cracking good."[47] Kevin Maher of The Times observed "The plot is painfully perfunctory, and places a lethal “national security guard commando” called Amrit".[48] Nate Richard of Collider rated the film B+ and wrote "Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's aggressively violent action flick is destined to become a cult classic."[49] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote "As brutal a film as the country has ever produced, Kill is a shockingly graphic action showcase from an industry that typically plays violence in a more cartoony register."[50] Randy Myers of The Mercury News stated "After a groan-inducing 15 minutes of exposition, “Kill” lets go of all that baggage to become an outright blast while making a convincing argument for Lakshya becoming our next big action star."[51]
Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter observed "The fight scenes are extremely well choreographed, filmed and edited, but they’re so relentless in their non-stop pacing that the viewing experience becomes numbing."[52] David Ehrlich of IndieWire rated the film B+ and expressed "“Kill” makes very, very good on its goofy title by the time all is said and done, but perhaps the most surprising thing about Bhat’s action extravaganza is that it inverts expectations without ever getting off-track."[53] Shakyl Lambert of CGMagazine rated 8.5/10 and wrote "Kill is one of the best action films of the year, and action fans need to keep this one on their radar."[54] Matt Donato of /Film rated the film 9 stars out of 10. He also stated "No joyous Bollywood dance interludes — this isn't RRR. Bhat's sublimely savage Kill has more in common with take-no-prisoners Indonesian badassery like The Night Comes for Us or The Raid, accentuating breakneck violence that flows like a gushing river of blood from gaping knife wounds."[55] Ross McIndoe of Slant Magazine rated the film R and wrote "The action is kinetic and chaotic as bodies are sent bouncing off seats, windows, floors, and ceilings."[56] Andrew Mack of Screen Anarchy observed "The violence is not fancy and intricate, but fast and harsh, with a survivor’s instinct at the forefront."[57] Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail commented "For its first half-hour, Kill’s fights are plentiful if slightly pedestrian in their staging and speed."[58] Jonathan Hickman of Newnan Times-Herald gave 7/10 stars and wrote "By removing much of the heavy firepower associated with guns, Bhat’s film delivers visceral, bone-crunching sequences that have a significant impact despite their relatively overblown nature."[59] Critic Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com gave a mixed review and wrote "Kill tics off most of the essential boxes for a good popcorn flick, making it easy to resist but harder to pass up."[60] Reviewing for Time Out Phil de Semlyen gave 3/5 star and wrote "Credit to Bhat, too, for departing with the tried-and-tested action movie template to deliver an unexpected, nihilistic mid-movie twist. The problem is the sense of déjà vu that creeps in thereafter."[61] Critic Mark Kermode through his Youtube review stated "For survivors democracy is a hard wall."[62] Lyvie Scott of Inverse gave a mix review "Though Kill has its action down pat, it does lack a sense of narrative variety."[63]
Remake
On July 1, 2024, three days prior to Kill's North American theatrical release, Lionsgate and 87Eleven Entertainment, which have previously collaborated on the John Wick franchise, announced an English remake of the film.[64][65][66] Denying rumors about remakes in other languages other than the English one, Dharma Productions issued a notice that "No other language remakes for Kill".[67][68][69][70]
References
- ^ "Kill (18)". BBFC. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Kill Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Kill Movie (2024) | Release Date, Review, Cast, Trailer". Gadgets 360. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Kill (2024)". Letterboxd. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Kill (2024) | MUBI". Mubi. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (6 December 2024). "Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, Director Of TIFF Entry & Lionsgate Acquisition 'Kill', Signs With WME". Deadline. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Steve Pond, "'American Fiction' Wins Toronto Film Festival's Audience Award". TheWrap, 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Kill". TIFF. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (8 September 2024). "Karan Johar, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Nikhil Nagesh Bhat on Toronto Film 'Kill': 'Even 'John Wick' Gives You Some Respite, This Is Relentless'". Variety. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Karan Johar's production 'Kill' to premier at Toronto International Film Festival". The Indian Express. PTI. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Jha, Subhash K (14 June 2024). "Tribeca Goes Crazy Over Karan Johar And Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's Action Film Kill | Exclusive". Times Now. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Kill | 2024 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca Festival. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (15 June 2024). "Tribeca 2024: Lakshya, Karan Johar attend 'Kill' premiere in New York City". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
{{cite news}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ Mukherjee, Tatsam (6 July 2024). "'Kill': Slaughter Is the Best Medicine in This Relentless, Remorseless Action Film". The Wire. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Jha, Lata (17 August 2023). "Dharma Productions, Sikhya Entertainment announce new film 'Kill'". Mint. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Jha, Subhash K (3 July 2024). "Nikhil Nagesh Bhat On Physical Training For Kill: Asked Lakshya To Bulk Up A Bit Because... | EXCLUSIVE". Times Now. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Daniels, Robert (10 July 2024). "How 'Kill' Slices Bollywood Open". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Kill | Song - Nikat". The Times of India. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Kill | Song - Jaako Raakhe Saaiyan". The Times of India. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ "Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's action film 'Kill' to land in theatres in July". The Hindu. PTI. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Singh, Rajni (9 February 2024). "Kill: Lakshya's actioner backed by Karan Johar-Guneet Monga gets a release date after winning praise globally". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Raghav Juyal's 'Kill' release date out". India Today. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (30 October 2023). "Lionsgate Picks Up North American & UK Rights To Indian Action Pic 'Kill' In Rare Studio Deal For Hindi Movie". Deadline. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Mendelson, Scott (30 October 2023). "Lionsgate Nabs U.S. and UK Rights For Indian Actioner 'Kill'". TheWrap. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Mishra, Shrishty (31 October 2023). "'Kill' Lands Groundbreaking Deal With Lionsgate for Theatrical Release". Collider. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Trisha (20 June 2024). "'Kill' set to become first Hindi film to release in over 1000 screens in North America". India Today. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (4 April 2024). "'Kill' Teaser Trailer: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's Action-Packed Gore Fest To Hit Theaters This Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "KILL MASACRE EN EL TREN". Bf Distribution (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Paris Filmes anuncia distribuição de "KILL – O Massacre no Trem"". Paris Filmes (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Схватка". paradisegroup.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Kill". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Kill". Metacritic. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Bandyopadhyay, Zinia (2 July 2024). "'Kill' Review: Raghav Juyal, Lakshya take us on a raw, reckless, gory ride". India Today. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Verma, Sukanya (3 July 2024). "Kill Review: The Great Train Rampage". Rediff.com. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Hungama, Bollywood (3 July 2024). "Kill Movie Review: KILL is a violent and stylish action entertainer". Bollywood Hungama.
- ^ Chatterjee, Saibal (3 July 2024). "Kill Review: Hindi Cinema Has Never Produced Anything Quite Like This". NDTV. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Jogani, Rishil (2 July 2024). "Kill Review: Lakshya unleashes his inner beast in the masterfully shot but thin-plotted gory action drama". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Gupta, Shubhra (2 July 2024). "Kill movie review: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal deliver a distinctively desi lean, mean killing machine". The Indian Express. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Mitra, Shilajit (2 July 2024). "'Kill' movie review: Lakshya rampages in propulsive bloodfest". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Bhatia, Uday (3 July 2024). "'Kill' review: The violence in this grisly action film is anything but empty". Mint. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Ramnath, Nandini (5 July 2024). "'Kill' review: A superbly crafted, one-way ticket to slaughter". Scroll.in. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ Bhardwaj, Kartik (6 July 2024). "'Kill' movie review: This satisfying actioner serves more than just guts and gore". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Singh, Nandini (4 July 2024). "This Hindi film is earning rave reviews and getting an English remake". Business Standard. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Prakash, Priya. "Kill X Review: Is India's Fascination With Bloodshed On Screen Growing?". SheThePeople. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Newman, Kim (2 July 2024). "Kill review: non-stop crowdpleasing carnage". British Film Institute. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (4 July 2024). "'Kill' Review: The Title Says It All. Over and Over Again". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Bray, Catherine (4 July 2024). "Kill review – ultraviolent Indian train thriller is finger-cracking good". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Maher, Kevin (5 July 2024). "Kill review — the most violent action movie you'll ever see". The Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Richard, Nate (9 September 2023). "'Kill' Review: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's Action Film Is Bloody Brilliant | TIFF 2023". Collider. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (6 October 2023). "'Kill' Review: A Train, Two Commandos and 40 Thieves Add Up to One Bloody Action Bonanza". Variety. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Myers, Randy (10 July 2024). "What to watch: 'Sausage Party' is back to offend us all". The Mercury News. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (10 July 2024). "'Kill' Review: Train-Set Indian Actioner Alternately Entertains and Exhausts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (3 July 2024). "'Kill' Review: Indian Bandits Pick the Wrong Train to Rob in One of the Best Pure Action Movies Since 'The Raid'". IndieWire. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Lambert, Shakyl (31 October 2023). "Kill (2023) Review – TIFF 2023 – CGMagazine". CGMagazine. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Donato, Matt (29 September 2023). "Kill Review: India Gets Its Own The Raid In This Ultra-Violent Action Movie Fantastic Fest". /Film. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ McIndoe, Ross (30 June 2024). "'Kill' Review: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's Killer Action Extravaganza". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Mack, Andrew (10 September 2023). "Toronto 2023 Review: KILL, An Army of One Versus an Army of Train Thieves". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Hertz, Barry (4 July 2024). "Review: Spectacular, and spectacularly violent, Bollywood thriller Kill shoots for the, well, you know". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Hickman, Jonathan (5 July 2024). "Capsule Film Reviews". Newnan Times-Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Abrams, Simon (4 July 2024). "Kill movie review & film summary (2024) | Roger Ebert". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ de Semlyen, Phil (4 July 2024). "Kill". Time Out. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Kermode 2024, 34m.
- ^ Scott, Lyvie (3 July 2024). "'Kill' Pushes A Simple Revenge Story to Its Absolute Limit". Inverse. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (1 July 2024). "'John Wick' Producers 87Eleven, Lionsgate Developing English-Remake Of Indian Action Movie 'Kill'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "English remake of 'Kill' in the works with 'John Wick' director Chad Stahelski attached to produce". The Hindu. PTI. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "John Wick director Chad Stahelski to produce Hollywood remake of Kill, says he's looking forward to collaborating with Karan Johar, Guneet Monga". The Indian Express. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Nyayapati, Neeshita (16 July 2024). "No other language remakes for Kill in the works; clarifies Dharma about Lakshya, Raghav Juyal-starrer". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Dharma clarifies rumours about 'Kill' remake: Only English language rights sold". India Today. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Dharma Productions clarifies no remake rights sold for Lakshya – Raghav Juyal starrer Kill in Indian languages yet; only Hollywood remake confirmed : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ Features, C. E. (17 July 2024). "Karan Johar's Dharma Productions issues statement on Kill remake: 'Only English language rights have been sold'". Cinema Express. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
External links
- Kill at IMDb
- Kill at Rotten Tomatoes
- 2023 films
- Hindi-language action thriller films
- 2023 action thriller films
- 2020s Hindi-language films
- Lionsgate films
- Roadside Attractions films
- Indian action thriller films
- Indian Army in films
- Films set in Delhi
- Films shot in Delhi
- Films set on trains
- Films about train robbery
- Indian crime action films
- Indian crime thriller films
- Hindi-language crime thriller films