Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Contracts’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Contracts’.
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For the most part, movie characters and their overall design, follow a fairly strict set of rules. Superheroes for instance, always win and rarely die and if by chance they do… they find a way to return to life in the sequel. And the monsters that populate the horror genre, always have a grandiose weakness, the kind that allows for the hero or heroes to finally vanquish them and save the day. Plus, there’s the assassin, a person that is so cold and so good at what they do, that they are a forced to be reckoned with. The kind that cannot be stopped with reasoning or care, since they no longer value human life in the slightest.
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If anything, these particular tropes are designed to make an audience comfortable when they come to the multiplex, so that they can properly lose themselves within the plot. But while it is nice to be cozy within the framework of a movie and enjoy the familiar, films that challenge those tropes are always a welcome addition to the market as well. Because it is nice to know that there are still filmmakers out there that want to push these characters to be more than their baseline counterparts and thankfully that’s allowed for some superheroes to deal with loss in every sense of the word, or for the living dead to take over the world or in the case of the film Contracts, see assassins deal with genuine fear for their lives.

For in this particular film, we are introduced to a former assassin named Anthony Lo who is contacted by a talented hitman named Mark Sullivan because dear Mark is dealing with quite the problem right now. Because Mark is the top dog in his assassin outfit and one by one his skilled employees are suddenly disappearing from the face of the earth. Which has Mark and most of his cohorts terrified, for they are the best of the best and it is horrifying to know that someone out there is hunting them. And it is Mark’s hope that Anthony will be able to help in bringing down this mysterious assassin of assassins, a notion that Mister Lo brushes off… until he comes to learn that his ex-wife, also an assassin, has fallen victim to this maniac and simply must be avenged. But unfortunately for Anthony and Mark, they’ll need more than mere revenge to bring this monster down. For this particular assassin, is as talented as they come, and they will not rest until they are the last assassin standing.

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Now, before we dig any deeper into this particular motion picture, it’s best we offer up a warning. In that, if you’re expecting this story to be cerebral and brooding in nature, you’re in for quite the surprise. Because this is a movie that quite frankly makes the action a focus over anything else. So, a lot of the character development that one might expect in regard to a plot such as that, simply isn’t there. Which just means that this movie won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay. But if you’re looking to enjoy an explosive ride, then this one is for you. Because the action sequences in this movie are downright breathtaking at times and supremely brutal and they really do make for an engaging experience since you’re curious to see how a particular battle is going to end and how the next one is going to top the last one.

But while that makes it seem as though this movie is completely brainless; the plot does have its merits. Because this story really does do a phenomenal job of shaking up the assassin sub-genre. Because the person that is bringing down these skilled killers, is relentless and cunning and intelligent and it is downright refreshing to see assassins on the run and living in outright fear. For that really isn’t something you find in this sub-genre, and it definitely adds a layer of intrigue to the story as you try and piece together exactly who could be skilled enough to bring down such talented hitmen and the web of intrigue that this movie spins in regard to that, does indeed lead to some seriously delightful surprises as the story continues along.

In the end, this is just a good old fashioned, high-octane action flick and that’s just fine. Because not every movie out there needs to have social commentary, or some kind of morality lesson buried within its framework. In fact, sometimes we just want to be entertained and that’s exactly what this movie offers you from beginning to end. Because at no point does the action let up in the slightest, making this flick an exhausting but fulfilling ride. So, if you’re looking for a wonderful way to escape the ills for the world for an hour and a half, then this is the movie to see. Because this one really is quite the delightful experience, one that will keep you guessing while it wows you with one epic action sequence after another.  

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