Verdict
Summary
Contract to Kill is mildly better than a lot of Seagal’s recent fare but that’s mostly due to Russell Wong.
Plot: Harmon is a CIA/DEA enforcer investigating Arab terrorists captured in Mexico. With his team–seductive FBI agent Zara and spy-drone pilot Sharp–he flies to Istanbul and uncovers a brutal plot: Islamic extremists plan to use Sonora drug-smuggling routes to bring deadly weapons, and leaders, into the U.S. To prevent an attack on America, Harmon must turn these two savage forces against one another before his time–and his luck–run out.
Review: Sensei Seagal is back (again) and this time he has a Contract to Kill!
You know the drill. He’s an ex-CIA operative asked to come back to take down some bad guys.
What this has in its favour though is the introduction of Russell Wong who I’ve always considered one of the more underrated actors out there and I’d like to see him in more movies. He is as cool as always and elevates this beyond a one star movie simply for showing up.
Seagal also shows up for this movie and is the main protagonist so it’s more than a glorified cameo, which is a nice change. It’s hard to believe this is the same man from Out for Justice and Above the Law though where he used to actually show personality but in this Seagal just mumbles his way through it without showing any spark or personality whatsoever.
Contract to Kill brings nothing new or particularly exciting to the genre and the action is mostly forgettable with frustrating fast cuts and shaky cam to try and disguise the use of doubles… it doesn’t work.
I think director Keoni Waxman at least tries to get the best of Seagal but even he struggles to keep things interesting especially the plot which failed to engage.
Overall, you know what you’re in for with Contract to Kill and like I said, it is at least elevated by the presence of Russell Wong and at least Seagal is the lead (for once) but the poorly done action scenes and dull story make this one to avoid. Let’s hope the rumoured Above the Law sequel can save Sensei from DTV Hell.
