Thriller + Set in Ireland + Starring Antonio Banderas. Sounds like one hell of a plan, right? That’s what “Cult Killer” aims to offer, but does it really work out? Naaahhhh. Directed by Jon Keeyes, this thriller takes us to the aesthetic landscapes of Ireland and starts off w a pretty intense vibe, but as you watch the film, you prolly have everything figured out by the first 40 minutes.
Plot
Before we begin, the plot deals with themes like addiction and abuse. So here’s a friendly trigger warning before you read further. Cassie (played by Alice Eve) used to be an alcoholic, but she turned her life around thanks to private investigator Mikael Tallini (Antonio Banderas), who saw potential in her. Fast forward a few years, and Cassie is working as Mikael’s assistant. And sab sahi chal raha hota hai until someone close to her gets murdered, flipping her world upside down. Enter Detective Rory (Paul Reid), who teams up with Cassie to crack the case and their investigation leads them to this creepy cult in Ireland. Now here’s where things get interesting. Cassie actually meets the killer, during the investigation, but guess what? They learn that they are after the same thing. What thing? You’ll have to watch and find out!
Performances
Let’s talk about the cast. Alice Eve as Cassie is… okay at best. She’s trying hard, but sometimes it feels like she’s not quite right for the role. It’s just, I didn’t get that cop/private detective vibe from her. Antonio Banderas is charming as always, but his character doesn’t give him much to work with. He’s basically the wise mentor who never really evolves into something better. Shelley Henning as Jamie is good though. She brings some intensity, which is a nice change of pace, but again, Paul Reid as the detective is just kinda there. He could’ve been so impactful, especially towards the end, but it’s like he’s there to just fill gaps. Overall, pretty disappointed.
Direction and Writing
Jon Keeyes directs this one, and while he keeps things moving, there’s not much innovation here. As I said, pehle 30-40 minute mein pata chal jaata hai how things are gonna pan. And believe me when I say there’s literally no deviation from what you’ve guessed. The script, written by Charles Burnley, is packed with clichés and predictable moments. Remember how bachpan ke coloring books had numbers on them and we had to paint according to that? It’s like they followed a paint-by-numbers guide for crime thrillers. They try to explore some deep themes about trauma and healing, but they never really go beyond the surface. Vvv shallow for a thriller.
Screenplay and Cinematography
It’s the same story here too: the screenplay is super predictable. You realize there won’t be any big surprises even before the movie hits the interval. The dialogues? Feels like a 15-year-old wrote them for a school project. It’s either very direct and rough or straight-up cliche. The cinematography had a great chance to show off some of Ireland’s beauty, but the plot doesn’t allow it to. Arre when you have such beautiful landscapes at your disposal then why not shoot some of the scenes outside instead of dark, closed buildings??? We get a few nice shots of the landscape and some pubs, but that’s about it. The rest of the movie, just like the plot, looks pretty dull and flat.
So, is “Cult Killer” worth your time? Meh. Alice Eve and Antonio Banderas do their best, but the movie doesn’t give them much to shine with. It’s a bit like junk food: not particularly nutritious, but it might satisfy a craving if you’re not too picky. If anything, the title sounds cool, even if the movie itself doesn’t quite live up to it. Expected much more from this one but, it is what it is.
