A Detailed Review of the Film First Kill (2017)
First Kill is a 2017 action thriller directed by Steven C. Miller and starring Bruce Willis and Hayden Christensen. At its core, the film explores themes of fatherhood, redemption, and moral compromise, wrapped within a suspense-driven narrative involving a botched robbery and a small-town police cover-up. With intense pacing and gritty action, First Kill attempts to blend emotional family drama with the tension of a crime thriller.
The story follows Wall Street broker Will Beeman (played by Hayden Christensen), who takes his wife and young son, Danny, on a trip to his rural hometown. Hoping to reconnect with Danny and improve their strained relationship, Will takes him hunting in the woods. However, the family retreat turns into a nightmare when they witness a shooting and inadvertently become entangled in a deadly criminal conspiracy. When Danny is taken hostage by a wounded bank robber named Levi (Gethin Anthony), Will is forced into a high-stakes race against time to recover his son and uncover the truth behind the crime.
Bruce Willis plays Police Chief Howell, a local lawman who at first appears to be trying to help Will, but whose motivations soon become suspicious. Willis brings his usual stoic authority to the role, although his screen time is relatively limited. Much of the film’s emotional and physical weight falls on Christensen, who delivers a committed performance as a desperate father forced to confront danger and moral dilemmas far outside his comfort zone.
One of the central dynamics of the film is the growing relationship between Will and the wounded Levi, who, despite being an apparent criminal, gradually reveals a more complex backstory. Their interactions blur the lines between good and evil, adding a layer of moral ambiguity that elevates the otherwise straightforward plot. Levi is not a typical villain; rather, he becomes a reluctant anti-hero who helps expose corruption that runs deeper than first suspected.
Visually, First Kill employs a gritty, overcast aesthetic that complements its small-town setting and shadowy themes. The cinematography emphasizes tension, with tight framing during chase scenes and shootouts that keep the viewer on edge. The action sequences are solidly executed, if not particularly innovative, with a focus on realism and close-quarters tension rather than spectacle.
However, the film is not without its flaws. The plot, while engaging, relies heavily on genre clichés — the estranged father trying to reconnect with his son, the corrupt cops, and the last-minute moral revelations. The dialogue can sometimes feel forced, and the pacing in the middle of the film sags slightly as it juggles character development with action. Some of the twists are predictable, and secondary characters lack depth, serving mostly as plot devices.
In conclusion, First Kill is a modest yet entertaining thriller that balances personal stakes with crime-driven tension. While it may not reinvent the genre, it offers a compelling enough story and solid performances — particularly from Christensen — to keep audiences engaged. For fans of action thrillers with a human touch and a tight runtime, First Kill delivers a respectable blend of suspense, heart, and gunfire.
