Today’s quick review: Suicide Kings. A group of young men led by Avery (Henry Thomas) get more than they bargained for when they kidnap Charlie Barret (Christopher Walken), a wealthy man who is reputed to have contacts with some very dangerous people. Their plan is to pressure Barret into giving them the money needed to pay the ransom on Avery’s sister, who has been kidnapped by a pair of thugs. But in spite of his friendly exterior, Barret has a will of iron. Through a combination of threats and charm, he begins to exert control over his captors and leads them to believe that one of them might be a traitor. Meanwhile, his man on the outside (Denis Leary) embarks on a violent search across the city to look for the kidnapped sister on Barret’s behalf.
Suicide Kings is a crime drama that mixes tension with snatches of humor. The film hinges on a very strong performance by Christopher Walken as Charlie Barret, who is quite reasonable until he is pushed too far. His treatment of the boys is an exercise in manipulation, and Walken switches between the charismatic and dominant sides of his character with ease. Each boy is harboring secrets that come to light as Barret tests the boundaries of his captivity. But their acting is noticeably weaker than Walken’s, so what should be an interesting dynamic comes off as one-sided.
The film’s tone is peculiar, never quite reaching the level of comedy yet relying too much on humor for a pure drama. The alternation between the two leaves an uneasy feeling in the viewer’s stomach. A couple of violent shocks put a damper on the light tone that builds up when Barret is left to his own devices, while that light tone is at odds with the overall tone of the movie. Embracing the humor a little more and easing up on the film’s darker aspects would have broadened its appeal, while taking the opposite approach would have yielded a very credible drama. As it is, Suicide Kings delivers tension disrupted by moments of levity in a way that is not quite masterful.
Suicide Kings is an enjoyable crime flick with a good plot and a great main character. The film’s twists are not all winners, but there are enough of them to keep the tension high until the end. Christopher Walken pulls of a rare blend of good humor and derision, and his subtle manipulations of the boys are interesting to watch. Skip Suicide Kings if you are looking for a superlative film, a perfect drama, or a light watch. Watch it if you are interested in mysteries, good character interactions, and tension cut with a bit of humor.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I also give it a 7.0 for a strong performance by Walken, a good plot, and nice humor, held back by its hybrid tone and a weak supporting cast.