Published by Mason Oldridge, 17 June 2024
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Fresh off his success in Anyone But You, Glen Powell leads in Netflix’s new black comedy film based on the unbelievably “somewhat true story”.
The film follows Gary Johnson, a university professor who moonlights as a fake hitman for the police department. Johnson is shy and mild-mannered though takes on a much more confident personality when acting as a contract killer, finding he is successful in the role and obtains a high conviction rate. However, one day, when he is 'hired' by Madison Masters, a wife wishing to have her abusive husband killed, he becomes sympathetic towards her situation and instead tells her to take the money to start a new life.
This is where the real life aspect ends and a series of chain events follow as Johnson begins a secret, sexual relationship with Masters, remaining in his hitman persona. It is refreshing to see a film with such a different and unpredictable storyline. There is a slight flaw in the ending as Gary fought to keep his connection to Madison a secret, only to eventually go public and start a family, though this can be overlooked in order to maintain the happy ending. Furthermore, it is pleasingly unusual that the film delivers such an ending in which a couple are given their happy ever after, despite being responsible for two murders.
Powell excels in his role as it is comical to see Johnson put such detailed effort into his work, researching his 'customers' and creating a tailored persona for each of them, with many of his characters being hilarious to see.
Hit Man deserves praise for taking an incredible true story and expanding on it with such originality, something rare in film these days.
8/10