Shades of a Killer (2012)
Studio: Brain Damage Films
DVD Release: March 6, 2012
Director: Kemal Yilirim
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Oh my God...I have no idea what the hell Shades of a Killer is really about. This no budget gangster film plays out like a college students thesis film. That is, a college student whose favorite movies must be Ninja Assassin and Jet Li films (not the Hong Kong movies, the ones where Jet Li acted with rappers). Taking itself way too seriously thus inducing un-intentional laughter, Shades of a Killer must be watched with others or while drunk.
I wish I could get into the plot a little but I really have no idea what was going on. Jaan (writer and director Yilirim) is a hitman who looks like he's 17 years old, sporting a John Waters mustache is the type of hitman with a heart of gold. Well, that's what the comic book narration tells us. His assassin father is killed and Jaan takes over for him, kung fu-ing and shooting everyone in sight. When he isn't trying to be this tough bad ass with his leather jacket, shades and two guns, he goes home to his wife and spouts off hilarious philosophical lines, all with a straight face.
While it is refreshing to see a British gangster film with a predominantly Asian/Indian cast, Shades of a Killer suffers due to its extremely low budget and generic script. I am all for low budget films but when gun shots don't match up correctly or even sound like they came from that type of gun, or when a person is beaten up by a 2x4 and the sound effect sounds like it came from a cartoon (my favorite) or when a hitman is carving up his victim with a meat cleaver much Mal Arnold's character from Blood Feast, I tend to not be as tolerant. As I stated before, the script is just a lousy thrown together Jet Li/John Woo wannabe action film that can be overly talky at times and unbearably bad. The plot is incoherent and tends to be just a bunch of actors punching, kicking and shooting at one another.
I will say this: for such a cheap movie there are a few actors who do have some good screen presence. I liked the long haired assassin Ali and some of the female actresses are cute to look at (sorry fellas, no tits ). Some of the martial arts scenes are staged better than I expected and Yilirim at least tries to keep the camera steady once in awhile during the fist fights. There is a sense that Yilirim and his cast/crew did care about this project and tried their best at making an action film. While I have seen some truly God-awful films (Dorm of Dead, I am looking at you!) Shades of a Killer at least tries to be a movie which could appease to certain viewers.
Word to aspiring film makers: good sound is so important to have in your film. It can make or break your low budget movie. Also, stay away from having any homage's to films from the 90's and 2000's.
DVD Release: March 6, 2012
Director: Kemal Yilirim
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Oh my God...I have no idea what the hell Shades of a Killer is really about. This no budget gangster film plays out like a college students thesis film. That is, a college student whose favorite movies must be Ninja Assassin and Jet Li films (not the Hong Kong movies, the ones where Jet Li acted with rappers). Taking itself way too seriously thus inducing un-intentional laughter, Shades of a Killer must be watched with others or while drunk.
I wish I could get into the plot a little but I really have no idea what was going on. Jaan (writer and director Yilirim) is a hitman who looks like he's 17 years old, sporting a John Waters mustache is the type of hitman with a heart of gold. Well, that's what the comic book narration tells us. His assassin father is killed and Jaan takes over for him, kung fu-ing and shooting everyone in sight. When he isn't trying to be this tough bad ass with his leather jacket, shades and two guns, he goes home to his wife and spouts off hilarious philosophical lines, all with a straight face.
While it is refreshing to see a British gangster film with a predominantly Asian/Indian cast, Shades of a Killer suffers due to its extremely low budget and generic script. I am all for low budget films but when gun shots don't match up correctly or even sound like they came from that type of gun, or when a person is beaten up by a 2x4 and the sound effect sounds like it came from a cartoon (my favorite) or when a hitman is carving up his victim with a meat cleaver much Mal Arnold's character from Blood Feast, I tend to not be as tolerant. As I stated before, the script is just a lousy thrown together Jet Li/John Woo wannabe action film that can be overly talky at times and unbearably bad. The plot is incoherent and tends to be just a bunch of actors punching, kicking and shooting at one another.
I will say this: for such a cheap movie there are a few actors who do have some good screen presence. I liked the long haired assassin Ali and some of the female actresses are cute to look at (sorry fellas, no tits ). Some of the martial arts scenes are staged better than I expected and Yilirim at least tries to keep the camera steady once in awhile during the fist fights. There is a sense that Yilirim and his cast/crew did care about this project and tried their best at making an action film. While I have seen some truly God-awful films (Dorm of Dead, I am looking at you!) Shades of a Killer at least tries to be a movie which could appease to certain viewers.
Word to aspiring film makers: good sound is so important to have in your film. It can make or break your low budget movie. Also, stay away from having any homage's to films from the 90's and 2000's.
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