Netflix Film Review: Kate - Stylish and Over the Top.
By Sam Coles:
Ever since I got Netflix, well when I say I got Netflix; I mean my dad gave me log ins for various streaming services but I digress. I have been going through a lot of the Netflix produced films which are a mix in terms of quality, but most of the ones I have watched have been good. And this brings me to the topic at hand Kate, an over the top and violent action thriller which is a fantastic time if you are looking to burn an hour and forty-five minutes.
Kate is about the titular contract killer where she is tasked with taking out an advisor within a Yakuza family, however she is having second thoughts as the daughter of the advisor is there with him, but she ends ending his life anyway. Haunted by the screams of the daughter she wants out of contract killing, however one evening when cavorting with a stranger she is poisoned with radiation and has a day to live. She ends up taking the daughter under her wing as the Yakuza family turns against her, Kate is then on a quest to get revenge against those who poisoned her.
It is a standard story and setup but it is the action and performances that really sell it, Mary Elizabeth Winstead playing the titular character is fantastic as a cold-blooded killer with nothing to lose, as she knows she is going to be dead by the end of it. There are some twists and turns in the story, but mostly it is betrayal the usual tropes one would expect in an action thriller like this but still entertaining nonetheless.
Let’s get into the meat of the film the action, and my goodness is the action and violence over the top and relentless. Think of it as John Wick meets the over-the-top gun fights from the Max Payne (The games not the that terrible 2008 film). Blood flies everywhere as Kate slashes her way through Yakuza gangsters, with knives, swords or my favourite the stems of broken wine glasses as she holds them in-between her knuckles. The action is very bloody, but it gets a thumbs up from me for it being well choreographed, as well it just being creative.
I seem to be alone with other critics as it has scored anywhere between 40% to 50% in terms of ratings, I don’t understand why as the film is a good popcorn flick. It is not deep by any means; however, I would argue not every film needs to have a profound message to get across because sometimes you need a film that you can just turn your mind off to and enjoy the action, and this film is one of those experiences.
I suppose the only aspect of the film that irritated me was the sidekick character that Kate is tasked to protect; she has some rather to put it plainly stupid lines. It comes across as a bit forced and makes me want to shoot her, sorry lost my trail of thought. Anyway, she does have her moments, but she used as the usual damsel in distress and snarky teenager type.
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