Director: Nico
Mastorakis
Notable Cast: Brian
Thompson, Oliver Reed, George Kennedy, Jose Ferrer, Michelle Moffett, Barbara
Lee Alexander, Jordana Capra, Kendall Conrad, Kim Lonsdale, Jude Mussetter,
Penelope Reed, David Sawyer, Angela Gerekou
“Murder, blood and paranoia are gonna make fine company
where you’re going. ‘Cause ladies, you’re going to hell.”
As the credits rolled on Hired
to Kill, I had an understanding of why Arrow Video might want to do a slick
new Blu Ray release of this film. It’s bad. It’s really bad. Notoriously
speaking, bad films have a fairly robust cult following and partnering that
with such an odd ball cast and cult director Nico Mastorakis, it only makes
this film ripe for cult film picking. However, even as a vulgar cinema auteur
myself, it was hard for me to ignore just how bad it was and accept it for its
entertainment value as a bad film. Particularly because Hired to Kill fails at having the two things needed to be a truly
iconic B-movie: charm and style. The release itself is pristine, Arrow Video
went balls out in its restoration and the behind the scenes material is
remarkably fun, but the film itself is going to be horrendously hit or miss for
action fans. Hired to Kill is the epitome
of a love it or hate it kind of B-movie.