Assassins
Directed by Richard Donner
- action
- adventure
- crime
- thriller
The story
Assassin Robert Rath arrives at a funeral to kill a prominent mobster, only to witness a rival hired gun complete the job for him -- with grisly results. Horrified by the murder of innocent bystanders, Rath decides to take one last job and then return to civilian life. But finding his way out of the world of contract killing grows ever more dangerous as Rath falls for his female target and becomes a marked man himself.
What it’s like
Cool, slick 1990s studio thriller: glossy, bright-lit interiors and crisp daylight in Seattle and Washington, with a sheen of late-Nineties digital polish rather than grain. Expect steady, conventional coverage, plenty of handheld tension in chase and confrontation scenes, and a score that leans on driving percussion and swelling strings during action beats and softer, romantic cues in quieter moments. The vibe is brisk, playful and glib, with a wry undercurrent that keeps the violence from feeling heavy: a comfortable rainy-afternoon or weekend-night watch when you want stylish suspense. Intensity is moderate to high: gunfights, several bloody killings with some gore, and a tense shootout finale, though nothing lingers in a sadistic way. Its people are a jaded professional gradually drawn toward a second chance, and a woman whose cool exterior hides more than it seems. It suits viewers who enjoy action-thrillers with romance and a light touch of humour, not those seeking anything gentle or quiet.
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