Bold and ‘Brutal’ful: Is ‘Kill’ India’s John Wick?

Imagine sledge hammers, knives, and fire extinguishers being used to literally crush someone to death in the most gruesome way imaginable. Already feeling a chill? Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt's Kill, already touted as ‘the most violent film to come out of India’ takes brutality to a new level, leaving you in utter shock almost every two minutes. Despite being backed by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment, this film is far from their usual fare of dysfunctional family drama or predictable romance sequences on a train. In Kill, while the train remains a constant, the journey quickly turns into a nightmare.

If you’re a John Wick fan, we’ve got some news for you, but let’s save that for later.

Fair warning, this review contains spoilers.

KILL - OFFICIAL TRAILER (HINDI - RED BAND) | Lakshya | Raghav | Tanya | Nikhil Nagesh Bhat | 5 Julyyoutu.be

PLOT

Think Train to Busan but with dacoits, not zombies.

Indian director Bhatt once fell asleep during a cross-country train ride, only to discover upon reaching his destination that armed dacoits had robbed the cars on either side of his. Although the heist wasn't intense enough to wake him up, it sparked his imagination about what a truly terrifying train raid might look like.

The result is Kill, where Amrit, played by Lakshya, plots to derail the arranged marriage of his secret sweetheart, Tulika (Tanya Maniktala). As Tulika and her family travel back to New Delhi after reluctantly celebrating her engagement, Amrit and his fellow commando Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan) board the same train to help him win her back. However, the film takes a bloody and brutal turn when a gang of 40 thieves board the train, intending to steal passengers' watches and phones. The situation escalates when the thieves encounter the two commandos, leading to an unforgettable and rather horrendous journey. Well, it sounds a bit like the Brad Pitt starrer- Bullet Train, but a gory version.

FOR ALL JOHN WICK FANS: HOLLYWOOD REMAKE OF ‘KILL’ IN THE WORKS

After receiving rave reviews at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Karan Johar and Guneet Monga's Kill is set to be remade in English with John Wick director Chad Stahelski serving as one of the producers. Stahelski will be backing the project alongside Jason Spitz and Alex Young under their banner, 87Eleven Entertainment.

In a statement, Stahelski said:

“Kill is one of the most vivid, wild, and creative action movies I have seen recently. Nikhil delivers relentless action sequences that need to be seen by as wide an audience as possible. It’s exciting to be developing an English-language version—we have big shoes to fill, and I am looking forward to working with Nikhil, Karan, Apoorva, Guneet, and Achin to achieve that.”

WHAT WORKED

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Kill is a technical marvel, showcasing exceptional production design by Mayur Sharma and stunning cinematography by Rafey Mehmood. Remarkably, the makers didn't shoot on an actual train but created an incredibly detailed set that captures every miniscule detail of a real train. The standout aspect of the film is the intense combat sequences between Amrit and the main antagonist, Fani, played by Raghav Juyal, whose performance is one of the highlights of the film.This film is a milestone in Hindi cinema. Amrit relentlessly pushes himself, and the action becomes more and more intense with each kill..

A dialogue from the film, "Tum Rakshak nahi ho bey, Raakshas ho, Raakshas" (You aren’t a saviour; you’re a monster, a monster) encapsulates the film's descent into monstrous brutality. Juyal is a revelation, embodying a 'Desi Dacoit', whose cold-blooded killings, as casual as chopping vegetables, leave a lasting impression. With an estimated 35-45 killings, each executed in a uniquely gruesome manner, the sheer body count is staggering, and may cause viewers to lose track amidst all the relentless violence.

Here’s how the film’s train set was designed:

Making Of The Train | KILL | Lakshya | Raghav | Tanya | Behind The Scenes | In cinemas 5 Julyyoutu.be

WHAT DIDN’T WORK

WORTH THE WATCH?