Killers Anonymous Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Killers Anonymous Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 4, 2019

There’s a lesson to be learned from “Killers Anonymous.” Its marketing boasts the participation of Gary Oldman and Jessica Alba, pushing the stars up front to secure some attention that wouldn’t be otherwise afforded to the low-budget endeavor. Predictably, Alba’s barely in the effort, while nearly all of Oldman’s screentime finds the Oscar-winner in a seated position, looking through binoculars. It’s a common deception, especially with B-movies, which need something to lure innocent viewers in, especially fans of the actors hoping to keep up with filmographies. It would be grand if there was something more to “Killers Anonymous” that’s worth paying attention to, but director Martin Owen doesn’t have a prize for those willing to sit through the picture. He loads up on colored lighting and scattered violence, but the feature is actually a series of audition pieces, not a cohesive thriller, and it’s an absolute chore to sit through.

Troubled assassin Jade (Jessica Alba) has been tasked with killing Senator Kyle (Sam Hazeldine), a future presidential candidate visiting London. When she fails her task due to stupidity, she seeks counsel with The Man (Gary Oldman), who runs Killers Anonymous, giving those who murder for a living a chance to share their concerns about the lifestyle. A new meeting is starting up inside a church basement, with Joanna (MyAnna Buring) taking control of the evening, welcoming a pack of monsters into a small room, with Alice (Rhyon Nicole Brown) a newcomer to the pack, wary about sharing details concerning the evil that remains within her. Trying to understand how a simple job was botched, The Man monitors the meeting from across the street, also spending time talking to Violet (Suki Waterhouse), an anxious member dealing with impulse control. As the evening wears on, new evidence surrounding Kyle’s survival arises, forcing the killers to turn on one another.

Alba only pops up in the first 10 minutes of “Killers Anonymous,” portraying Jade, a lesbian hitwoman who permitted her love of females to cloud her judgement, finding past sins catching up with her during the Kyle job. Jade is dispatched quickly, so if you happen to be watching this movie for Alba, congratulations, you can stop the disc early! For Oldman fans, there’s a little more to endure. While The Man is introduced as an authority figure, the screenplay (co-written by Owen) doesn’t keep him there, soon sending the character to a rooftop, where he’s handed a comfy chair, wine, and binoculars to keep up on church events. The Man also converses with Violet, and Owen stages these telephone conversations with both actors seated together, which is the first of many awkward stylistic choices found in “Killers Anonymous.” If you’re a fan of Oldman, I’m sorry. You’re going to have to sit through the whole thing.

The real story of “Killers Anonymous” concerns the church meeting hosted by Joanna, who provides a friendly atmosphere for the dangerous types who visit, each taking a chair to discuss their issues. Alice is the audience surrogate, joining the gathering with extreme hesitance, unsure what to expect from the evening. The screenplay doesn’t present a rolling narrative, instead stopping the feature to deal with everyone’s backstory, as each ghoul is permitted screen time to detail their inner pain. Owen establishes a graphic novel approach to “Killers Anonymous,” using the main titles to display panel art, and the visual presentation focuses on colors, working to add bits of the unreal to help boost the fantasy of what appears to be a futuristic tale. However, action is limited to a few heated showdowns, with the majority of the picture showcasing monologuing instead, diluting interest levels as boring personalities share limp tales of horror.

Killers Anonymous Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

With an AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation, "Killers Anonymous" strives to be memorable with its cinematography, offering extremely stylized visuals that showcase extreme lighting. Colors are intense throughout the viewing experience, providing bright primaries with interior lights and costuming, while more neon-adorned walls at a strip club create a vivid impression. The movie also enters deep red dreamscapes and golden L.A. locations. Detail is excellent with close-up work, picking out skin particulars and character body art. Textures are accessible with interiors, taking note of room decoration. Exteriors are dimensional. Delineation has a few brief moments of solidification. Mild banding is detected as well.

Killers Anonymous Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA is a comfortable overview of dialogue exchanges, sorting through various accents as the killers gather for their charged meeting. Emotionality is easy to follow, along with comfortable acts of intimidation, without dipping into distortive highs. Scoring needs are met with clarity, offering defined instrumentation. Surrounds are active with atmospherics, surveying room tones and group gatherings. Brief directional activity is encountered during storytelling sequences. Sound effects are direct, with snappy gunfire. Low-end is acceptable but never remarkable, adding some heft to violence.

Killers Anonymous Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Martin Owen and cinematographer Havard Helle.

• Deleted Scenes (12:11, HD) include "After Alice Story," "Alice Phone Call," "Calvin Story," "Leo and Calvin Improv," "Tommy and the CIA," and "Tommy Interrupts Ben."

• Alternate Ending (7:37, HD) is provided.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:14, HD) is included.

Killers Anonymous Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are a few wrinkles to iron out in the story, but "Killers Anonymous" isn't strong with twists, growing more convoluted, not mischievous, as it unfolds. Performances are less disciplined as well, making growing hostilities difficult to enjoy, as most of the cast is engaged in some type of overacting gamesmanship. There's little momentum to the endeavor, which transforms into a Tarantino-esque collision of bad attitudes and drawn weapons. Owen tries to be clever with "Killers Anonymous," but the quirky maniac approach has been done to death, and his attempt to purchase some attention with star power backfires in a hurry.