Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Selma Blair is one of the more interesting Hollywood actresses of her generation. With her charm, talent and willingness taking risks, like in Storytelling, she was able to contribute a lot to many films in which she appeared. Most of her roles in major productions were supporting, and she played main roles only in low budget films like Kill Me Later, 2001 thriller written and directed by Dana Lustig.

Blair plays Shawn Holloway, bank loan officer whose life became a mess, leading to severe depression. When her married lover informs her that his wife is pregnant, Shawn has had enough and decides to end her life in spectacular fashion, by throwing herself from the bank’s roof. Just as she is about to do it, bank becomes a target of a masked robber Charlie Anders (played by Max Beesley) who comes to the roof and takes her hostage. Shawn agrees to help him escape by playing the helpless victim in exchange for his promise to kill her later.

Kill Me Later is remake of Dana Lustig’s debut, a 1993 short film which used the same bizarre premise. As such, it has many of the problems that arise when short films are expanded into features – a plot that is artificially padded, making the scenes repetitive, unimaginative and an entire film longer than it actually is. To make things even worse, Lustig tries to compensate those flaws by directing it with rapid cuts and unusual shots copying the worst excesses of 1990s and early 21st Century film makers inspired by MTV. The only thing that makes Kill Me Later watchable, at least to a degree, is Selma Blair’s performance. She easily outshines her partner Max Beesley, British musician whose attempt at Hollywood stardom fizzled out with his appearance in catastrophic Glitter, is forgettable, and this could apply to the film in general.

RATING: 3/10 (+)