Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s Kill (2023) is routinely being touted as the most violent film to come out of India. While I have seen my fair share of Indian movies, some with a high level of violence, I can’t remember seeing one so extreme in its bloodletting. Kill is a visceral fight fest, filled to the brim with awesome fight scenes and that much gore that it wouldn’t look out of place in a horror film.
Kill has been favorably compared to The Raid (2011) and it is easy to see why. Both films deal with a lone hero taking on an army of gangsters in a confined space. Whereas The Raid had Iko Uwais fighting for his life inside the confines of a high rise, Kill settles on the more claustrophobic setting of a Delhi bound train. Other than some brief moments, this is where the majority of the film takes place, with Bhat using his limited location to the film’s advantage.
When Army Commando Amrit (Lakshya) gets word that his girlfriend Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) has been forced into an arranged engagement by her father, railroad tycoon Baldev Singh Thakur (Harsh Chhaya), he decides to head to Delhi to stop the wedding. Amrit manages to board the same train as Tulika and her family, with the two of them meeting up on board. They quickly decide to marry as soon as they reach their destination.
Things don’t exactly go to plan when they find their train taken over by a gang of knife wielding bandits led by the deranged Fani (Raghav Juyal). Working for his father, Fani and his men proceed to wreak havoc through the train, robbing anyone they come across. Amrit and his friend Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan) begin to fight back, attempting to subdue the bandits until help arrives. The realization of who Tulika’s father eventually leads to deadly consequences, with Amrit having to use all his skills as a Commando to stop the bandits from hurting the rest of the passengers.
Unlike many other Indian actioners, Kill isn’t hampered with an excessive run time. It is refreshing to see a Hindi language film clock in at roughly 100 minutes. I would suspect that many people’s knowledge of Indian cinema is based around Bollywood films, with song and dance numbers being intercut into the action and drama. That may put many viewers off, although to be personally honest this has never bothered me as these films offer up some variety to the typical Hollywood action blockbuster.
However, I digress. Kill isn’t such a film. There are no song and dance numbers during its runtime. Instead we are treated to some of the most brutal fight scenes of the year, with almost everyone in the film being beaten, shot or stabbed at some point during the film. Of course, it isn’t all action, with Bhat including some romance into proceedings during the opening section of the film. The relationship between Lakshya’s Amrit and Tanya Maniktala’s Tulika is the main catalyst of the film and is what drives Amrit to step up and face off multiple opponents.
While the first half of the film spends time introducing the main characters and establishing the romance between our leads, there is still action involved, even if it isn’t as violent as what comes in the second half of the film. During these moments, it’s interesting to see the lengths that Amrit takes not to kill his opponents. Sure, some bones are broken and the odd person is stabbed, but these are used to subdue his opponents rather than kill them.
It isn’t until the halfway mark when something makes him change his mind. At this point the film’s title card of “Kill” eventually appears which actually surprised me. There aren’t many films out there where the title of the film doesn’t show up until the 45 minute mark. As much as it shows the title, it is almost a warning of what’s to come as Amrit unleashes all kinds of bloody mayhem, with him crushing people’s heads with a fire extinguisher, decapitating someone with a machete or putting a knife through someone’s mouth. Nothing is too brutal for our hero (if he can be classed as such) when dishing out his victims’ punishment.
Unlike many Indian action films which favor overly flashy action scenes, the fight scenes on show are grittier and more brutal, with no room for finesse. Unlike Indian martial artist Vidyut Jamwal, whose films are filled with his athletic showmanship, Lakshya employs a more grounded, harsh style which is in fitting with his character’s background as a Commando. Rather than trying to pull off fancy moves, he is more interested in inflicting the maximum amount of damage as possible.
Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat keeps events moving along at a great pace, with the audience hardly able to catch their breath until being thrown into another bloody encounter. In some respects the film is highly reminiscent of Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan (2016), with the zombies being replaced by bandits. It has the same level of claustrophobia and desperation during the action. There is a slight fear the action will become repetitive due to taking place in the one locale, but Bhat overcomes this with the implementation of some gruesome gore effects as well as the brisk runtime. While Bhat has several films already under his belt, none are comparable to Kill, with him showing he has a real flair for action.
After appearing in a handful of television series, Kill marks the movie debut for leading man Lakshya. With his sinewy muscles, Lakshya makes for a commanding action hero. The film asks more of him as a physical performer than as a dramatic actor but that is fine. He has certainly made a debut that demands attention, and one that should lead to work in larger scale movies.
Raghav Juyal’s Fani is essentially the main villain of the film. His father may be the leader of the gang, but it is Fani you will find yourself truly hating. He is a despicable character and one that you want to see get his comeuppance. Surprisingly, he proves to be a more physical force than expected, with him putting Lakshya’s Amrit through his paces on several occasions.
The remainder of the cast don’t get as showy a role as Lakshya but they do well with what they are given. Tanya Maniktala gives her character some heart in what is otherwise the damsel in distress role. Harsh Chhaya’s performance as Baldev Singh Thakur was also more well rounded than initially anticipated. When introduced, Thakur has set up his daughter’s engagement against her wishes. This creates some preconceived notions about the character, but his more humane side is shown as he is continually put through the ringer.
Kill is exactly the film that it claims to be. While not for everyone, anyone looking for an energetic actioner with a plethora of gorily violent action scenes should look no further. Sure, it may be slightly lacking in terms of plot but the level of action on display makes you forgive any such shortcomings.
Kill is destined to become a cult classic, especially with it having the added advantage of being afforded a Western release courtesy of Lionsgate. What should also give it more attention is the recent announcement that David Leitch’s 87North has bought the rights to make a U.S. remake. While it’s great the film is getting such attention, I personally don’t see the point of a remake, as Kill is one of the most accessible Indian action films I have seen. There’s also the fact that 87North were behind the somewhat similar Bullet Train (2022) and I’m all the more befuddled why they have decided to produce this remake. Still, doesn’t mean I won’t be there when it opens to see what 87North brings to the table.
Plot: 3.5/5
Acting: 4/5
Action: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
