The Kills, a unique blend of action and comedy, is a black-and-white film written and directed by Jonathan Niederer. It revolves around Olivia (Anette Puskas), a hit woman with a bad attitude and a fiery determination to right the wrongs done to her. She dreams of leaving her assassin life behind and opening a bar in Mexico.
Despite the hefty payday per kill, forces conspire against Olivia to ensure she’ll never collect the money. Complicating matters even further is Jamie (Noble Gray), a writer renting out her apartment from an unscrupulous landlord. He doesn’t mind her job, but considering what Olivia does, getting close to people puts them in danger. Can Olivia get the money owed her and keep Jamie safe? Or are there too many killers after her for Olivia to get her just reward?

“…a hit woman with a bad attitude and a fiery determination to right the wrongs done to her.”
From its cinematography, oddball vibes, and tongue-in-cheek dialogue, The Kills screams cult. The pacing is skewed as each scene is trying to convey something different. Jamie’s deadpan, while refusing to explain the plot of his novel (it is not a book), plays out very measured to maximize the humor. Olivia chasing a killer through the streets is frenzied, while the bullet’s trajectory offers the only pop of color in the film. These two sequences vary significantly in style, but Niederer makes them feel as if they are part of the whole.
Puskas is tons of fun as the belligerent hit woman. She’s too cool for anyone and everything, which works very well. Noble is consistently hilarious as the author, who may or may not be in danger. Galen Howard shows up near the end and is thoroughly menacing and intense. Patrick Skahill is an engaging and wild presence as the Underboss. To say more could spoil things, so that’s enough about him.
The Kills is a strange concoction that undeniably works. Every scene has an offbeat tone and vacillates between bloodshed and humor. The cast all understands the assignment and delivers peculiar yet effective performances. This is a strange experience but one whose charms are undeniable.
For more information, visit the official The Kills site.