Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Hard Kill Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 6, 2021

Actor Bruce Willis and director Matt Eskandari have a friendly relationship, as “Hard Kill” is their third collaboration in a short amount of time. And by collaboration, I mean Eskandari is in charge of creating low-budget mayhem while Willis sits comfortably somewhere away from the action, collecting what I assume to be a sizable paycheck. They teamed for “Trauma Center” and the reasonably engaging “Survive the Night,” but they press their luck with “Hard Kill,” which puts in next to no effort when it comes to creating even basic suspense or excitement. It’s a siege picture in a way, with the helmer in charge of making pennies spent on the production look like dimes. The production doesn’t have any fresh ideas or, at times, basic competency, staying weirdly small with a plot that welcomes a grander feel for B-movie escapism.

In New York, ex-military man Miller (Jesse Metcalfe) takes a meeting with Chapter House founder Chalmers (Bruce Willis), receiving a lucrative offer for a security detail position with his mercenary team, including Sasha (Natalie Eva Marie), Dash (Swen Temmel), and Harrison (Jon Galanis). Chalmers is being targeted for kidnapping by terrorist The Pardoner (Sergio Rizzuto), in possession of the operating code for A.I. Project 725 the bad guy wants, and he’s claimed control of the tech world king’s daughter, Eva (Lala Kent), to ensure delivery. Reluctantly accepting the offer, having previously suffered an injury at the hands of The Pardoner, Miller gathers his team and sets up shop inside an abandoned factory, hoping to keep Chalmers safe from harm. When The Pardoner arrives with his army, a battle for control of the code begins, soon complicated by Ava’s presence and the fight to survive, with the villain determined to claim Project 725 and commence a new world order.

The screenplay by Chris LaMont and Joe Russo (not that Joe Russo) isn’t taking any chances, introducing Miller has a haunted vet who’s stuck trying to work with his rage issues. He’s reimagined himself as a mercenary, pulled into Chalmers’s world by Fox (Texas Battle), who once fought with him on the battlefield and now needs a special favor. There’s a massive payday for the Chalmers gig, involving simple protection in an empty industrial building, but, strangely, Miller doesn’t question the details. This ace soldier accepts the job without thinking it through, and “Hard Kill” is quickly off to the wintry location (breath is visible and greenery is gone), highlighting Miller’s crew, which includes Sasha, a tough woman, her brother Harrison, and quippy Dash. Their mission is to defend the fort from an upcoming invasion, with The Pardoner (such a disappointing bag guy name) ordering his men to take possession of the old man, retrieving an activation code to a special device.

It takes “Hard Kill” over an hour to actually explain what Project 725 is, and even then, the specifics aren’t completely understood. The Pardoner wants it to destroy the world, while Chalmers wants to keep it to prevent disaster. The fly in the ointment is Ava, who’s working with The Pardoner before becoming his prisoner, which gives the writers some father-daughter issues to explore, which is as close to dramatic content as the picture gets. The rest of the movie involves a lot of standing around (or in Willis’s case, sitting around), waiting for violence to erupt between the warring sides. And when that happens, the production relies on pedestrian hand-held camerawork to create excitement that isn’t otherwise present. There are chases and fights, and gunplay is surprisingly sloppy with its digital enhancements, while the cast remains remarkably indifferent to the pressure cooker environment they’re supposed to be in. The acting is straight-up bad in “Hard Kill,” with most of the unseasoned performers sounding like they need a nap, while Metcalfe tries to carry the feature with his macho take on bottom shelf heroism.

Hard Kill Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation basically deals with a single exterior location and a single interior battlefield. Color registers as intended, with the autumnal look of "Hard Kill" delivering browned out nature and brick buildings, while inside the battle zone, flat concrete grays dominate. Clothing favors black coats and shirts, which balance with white backgrounds. Adding some life to the frame is Natalie Eva Marie's bright purple hair, yellow building columns, and green night vision goggle lights. Computer screens also offer varied hues. Skintones are natural. Detail is acceptable, though some softness is present, possibly for glamour reasons. Building dimensions are understood, along with exterior flybys, which offer distances. Delineation is acceptable. Banding is periodic, along with some blockiness.

Hard Kill Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides a basic listening experience, mostly dealing with dialogue exchanges, which register crisply, clarifying performance choices (some cast members whisper, others grunt their lines) and exposition. Scoring offers synth support, adding some mild electronic weight in the low-end, while surrounds push out cues. Sound effects are distinct, with crisp gunplay and building destruction. Atmospherics are satisfactory, mostly delivering winter chill, group movement, and building echo, capturing the emptiness of the location.

Hard Kill Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

Hard Kill Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Hard Kill" doesn't try to do anything out of the ordinary, even with a story that invites craziness as mercenaries face off against terrorists. The MacGuffin isn't interesting and personalities are bland. And when action commences, Eskandari can't figure out exciting ways to present it, making the film mostly about people fighting people in concrete rooms. Junk food cinema possibilities aren't even considered here, with the production, and its 28 producers (which has to set some kind of record), merely requiring product for the marketplace, hiring a zoned-out Willis to boost star power for a feature that would benefit more from a single surprise.