Today’s quick review: 24 Hours to Live. Travis Conrad (Ethan Hawke), a world-class hitman mourning the death of his family, takes a job for Red Mountain, a shady paramilitary group operating in South Africa. His mission is to kill an important witness before he can testify to Interpol. But when Travis dies on the job, Red Mountain uses an experimental procedure to revive him temporarily, leaving him with just 24 hours to set things right.
24 Hours to Live is a budget action thriller that gives its hero a hard deadline. Ethan Hawke stars as Travis Conrad, a hitman left jaded by the death of his family a year prior. Qing Xu plays opposite him as Lin Bissett, an Interpol agent tasked with guarding Travis’ target. Between the memory of his family, a lifetime of dirty deeds, and a growing affection for Lin, Travis begins to doubt that the path he’s on is the right one.
24 Hours to Live delivers better action than many budget offerings. Travis is a smooth operator in and out of combat, using clever tricks to get an advantage over his enemies. His clean gunplay leads to fast-paced action sequences that are, if not innovative, at least satisfying. The film also takes the time to flesh out Travis and the supporting characters who influence him, notably Jim Morrow (Paul Anderson), an old friend employed by Red Mountain.
Still, 24 Hours to Live leaves plenty on the table. Travis’ death and revival barely makes an impact on the plot, in spite of the film’s title. Any other deadline would have served the same purpose. The plot covers all the ground it needs to but does little more. Travis’ redemption and two or three well-developed supporting characters help flesh out the story, but the film misses the chance to go farther with its subplots or plot twists.
Action fans looking for a quick hit may want to give 24 Hours to Live a shot. 24 Hours to Live can’t compete with the best of the action genre, but it holds its own among budget flicks, boasting good combat and a cohesive plot. Skip it if you’re looking for an exceptional pick. For a crude, over-the-top romp with a similar premise, check out Crank. For a much better action film in the same vein, try John Wick.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for no-frills but satisfying budget action.