Today’s quick review: First Kill. Worried that his son Danny (Ty Shelton) is being bullied at school, stockbroker Will Beeman (Hayden Christensen) takes him to the town where he grew up for a hunting trip. But their bonding activity takes a dark turn when they witness a violent confrontation between a bank robber and a crooked cop. Unsure of who to trust, Will then lies about the incident to Marvin Howell (Bruce Willis), the local sheriff.
First Kill is a crime thriller about a father and son who wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their encounter with Levi (Gethin Anthony), the culprit of a recent bank robbery in town, leaves Danny in danger and Will unable to go to the police for help. Will’s attempts to save his son, the hunt for the missing cash, and the uncertain motives of Sheriff Howell combine into a decent story, but its characters and emotional arc never hit home.
First Kill does a decent job of spinning its premise into a full story. The plot isn’t especially deep, but it has enough twists and turns to keep the viewer occupied. Much of the appeal comes from Will’s attempts to navigate a tricky situation, trying to save Danny without admitting what he witnessed. However, the parts are greater than the whole. The movie gets its individual scenes right but doesn’t have a strong sense of progression.
First Kill is also on shaky ground when it comes to its heart. The personal side of the story involves Danny finding his courage and Will learning to become a more responsive father, but neither of them is all that appealing as a character. The supporting cast doesn’t pick up the slack either: Howell only plays a distant role in the plot, Levi has a couple of good moments but nothing more, and Will’s wife Laura (Megan Leonard) contributes little.
The end result is a mediocre crime thriller with an interesting premise but mixed follow-through. First Kill holds some appeal for viewers who are more interested in plot than character. But ultimately it’s let down by lukewarm characters and lack of a clear vision for how its pieces should fit together. Crime aficionados may get something out of it, but there are better options available.
For a minimalistic crime thriller with a similar premise, try Cop Car. For another small-town crime drama with a more intricate plot, try Shimmer Lake. For a hunting-themed action movie, try Killing Season. For a Bruce Willis crime thriller with a darker tone, a better plot, and similar issues with focus, try Hostage.
4.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for an interesting setup and mixed execution.