Killer Heat // By Philippe Lacôte. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley and Richard Madden.
Killer Heatdirected by Philippe Lacôte and available on Prime Video, is a film that arouses mixed feelings. On the surface, it promises a captivating thriller with a mysterious plot and sumptuous settings, but digging a little deeper reveals a film that, despite some qualities, struggles to stand out in the film noir genre. It is both beautiful and frustrating, entertaining but sometimes predictable. What immediately strikes you when looking Killer Heatit is the quality of the visual production. Filmed in Greece, the film benefits from breathtaking landscapes. The rocky mountains, the luminous coasts, and the aerial views are simply splendid and offer a true immersion in this Mediterranean setting. The photography is careful, each shot seems designed to maximize the natural beauty of the locations, with precise framing that highlights the aesthetics of the film.
Private detective Nick Bali, an American expatriate in Greece, hired to investigate the accidental death of a young shipping magnate, Leo Vardakis, on the island of Crete. The victim’s sister-in-law doesn’t believe the official police report. But what exactly happened to Leo, and why? Despite the sunny beauty of this exotic Mediterranean region, Nick discovers darkness at every turn: where the rich and powerful Vardakis family rules like gods, where jealousies run deep, and where anyone can be suspect.
However, this visual beauty ends up working against the film. The numerous aerial shots and endless zooms on the landscapes become repetitive and end up distracting from the plot. It’s as if the director wanted to overemphasize the magnificence of the locations to the detriment of the rhythm of the story. A reduction in these contemplative moments would undoubtedly have made it possible to maintain a more sustained dramatic tension. The plot of Killer Heat is based on an interesting mystery: the suspicious death of the son of a rich family during a climbing session. His sister-in-law, convinced that it is a murder, hires a private detective to discover the truth. The story is based on a novel by Jo Nesbø, but unfortunately the film adaptation seems to dilute the tension of the original story. If the film promises to be a noir thriller, it nevertheless lacks certain essential elements of the genre. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s narration, although careful, fails to recreate the dark and tense atmosphere of the great classics of the genre.
Furthermore, the choice of Greece as the setting for a film noir is at odds with the dark and oppressive atmosphere one would expect from such a film. The plot also lacks false pretenses or “red herrings”, those false leads that make thrillers so thrilling. Here, the list of suspects is short and the twists and turns are too predictable, which takes away much of the suspense. The cast of Killer Heat is nevertheless impressive, with renowned actors like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Richard Madden. Their performances, although solid, fail to compensate for a sometimes weak script. Gordon-Levitt plays a private detective self-conscious about his past, and although his acting is convincing, he sometimes seems disconnected from the intensity of the plot. Woodley, for her part, plays a mysterious and determined woman, but her character lacks depth, the fault of a writing which does not allow her to really shine.
As for Richard Madden, his role is unfortunately underexploited. While he has proven in other productions his ability to captivate the audience, here he seems almost erased, as if he was there to complete the cast without really bringing added value to the plot. Killer Heat is not a bad film, far from it. There are moments when we get caught up in the game, when we appreciate the mystery and beauty of the landscapes. Lovers of thrillers will find what they are looking for, especially with a relatively short duration which avoids falling into deep boredom. The soundtrack, although discreet, pleasantly accompanies the plot, and Lacôte’s production remains effective. However, one can’t help but feel that the film could have been much more gripping. The lack of real suspense, the characters a little too stereotypical, and the few inconsistencies in the scenario prevent Killer Heat to rise to the rank of great noir thrillers. We leave the viewing with the feeling of having watched a pleasant but forgettable film, which will not leave a lasting impression.
In summary, Killer Heat is a film that oscillates between good and average. Its visual production is superb, its actors are talented, but the script and artistic direction lack the audacity to really captivate the viewer. It’s a film that can be watched without displeasure, but which could have been much more intense and memorable. If you’re looking for a light thriller to watch on a weekend evening, Killer Heat will do the trick. But don’t expect a masterpiece of the genre.
Note : 5/10. In short, a half-tone neo-noir thriller with breathtaking landscapes.
Released on September 26, 2024 directly on Amazon Prime Video
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