RipDelight
This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
Curapedi
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
Benas Mcloughlin
Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
Catherina
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
callanvass
I appreciate that Dolph is trying to make more thought-provoking films. I'm a huge Lundgren fan! I grew up with the guy. As much as he tries, a lot of his STD movies don't quite measure up to the effort. Dolph does these pretentious movies with a deep message, haunted by a shady past a bit too often. This one is hard to distinguish from the rest. Not much happens, making the pace extremely slow, and hard to endure at times. Another problems is how grim and melancholy it is. I had to do other things to cure the boredom I had at times during this movie. They add in emotional family drama that doesn't add anything. Those that yearn for some classic Lundgren action will be very disappointed as well. There are some OK fight scenes sprinkled in sporadically, but none of them wowed me. There are some unexciting shootouts, if you're into that. Lundgren looks bored on certain occasions. At times he seems really into it, others disenchanted. He sells the part by looking sullen and ashamed, but it didn't seem genuine to me. Rest of the cast are not really worth mentioning. This is mediocre stuff! Plain and simple. I would pass unless you're a die-hard Lundgren fan that has to see every movie he does. I'm one of those people4/10
Comeuppance Reviews
Edward Genn (Lundgren) is a family man and loving husband and father - but he's also a secret assassin trained in the former Soviet Union and working for the Russian Mob. His code name is Icarus. After certain events go sideways, all manner of bad guys - goons, hired killers, Russian mob, other mobs, etc. are after him. All Genn wants to do is protect his family. But he'll have to face the demons of his past first, personified by the evil gangster Vadim (Svenson). Will his double life come crashing down? It's very cool to see Dolph as a hit-man and he looks quite dapper in his suits and ties here. As seems to be the trend of late, some scenes are underlit and too dark to see, but what we did see, we liked very much. Except for the film quality and the soundtrack, this film could have been made in the 80's, which is definitely a good thing in our book. Dolph, as star and director, obviously knows what his fans want, and he delivers yet again. It helps that the writer, Raul Inglis, is also the uncredited writer on White Tiger (1996) as well as the writer of Breach of Trust (1995).There's plenty of action, good violence, and Bo Svenson as well. He doesn't show up until the very last portion of the film, but it was cool to see Dolph and Bo together, especially in a showdown as mortal enemies. Interestingly, the plot of "guy was a hit-man and now has a wife and daughter who are now in danger because of his past life and he now must use his violent training to protect them" was also used for Hit-man's Run (1999). Thankfully, neither Esteban Powell, nor any other annoying sidekick is on display. As said earlier, Dolph knows what his fans want. Annoying sidekicks are not one of them.So thanks to the action, violence, presence of two of our favorite stars (Dolph and Bo) and the undemanding running time of 88 minutes, not to mention the 80's throwback feel and Dolph's direction, The Killing Machine is a solid winner.For more insanity, check out: comeuppancereviews.com
swedzin
This film is just about watching poor old giant Dolph Lundgren... easily fading out from the world of action films. A former Russian agent, or soldier, whatever... is still active as some kind of mercenary and his "fake" work in the investment company. Boring... Lundgren is slow in his mouth, action... no more good old Kyokyshin karate from this guy, come on, man! You're not that old!! Only gun fighting... He is acting in these films where there's something to do with russians over and over, return to US, we need you there! Why don't he make some Swedish action comedy? Come on! Don't end up like Seagal, please! I have faith in this man. But, faith also fades away. The only think I like about this film is Bo Svenson... good actor, main villain in this film, but he was in the film only for 10 minutes. No more comment...Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring....
sol1218
***SPOILERS*** Better then you would have expected from a direct to DVD action flick with Dolph Lundgren as Eddie Genn/KGB code name Icarus taking things into his own hands when he's set up by his bosses and controller to be hit when his career as a hit man for the Russian Mafia is blown.This all happened when Genn was given a job to do in Hong Kong that in the end exposed his true identity when one of the persons involved survived and was able to finger him. Now back home in the US at his job as a financial investor Genn is visited by a Mr. Grahm, David Lewis, who by talking to him about investing in Hong Kong real estate tips Genn off that his days as a investment broker are numbered.***SPOILERS*** At first just being suspicious Genn soon realizes that he's being set up for the kill when his controller Mrs.Kerr Samantha Ferris, gives him an assignment or hit-job in Miami that's in fact to be his very last! Non-stop action with Eddie Genn giving as good as he takes in the movie as he's being tracked down by both sides of the law, the Russian Mafia and FBI/CIA, for immediate termination.After surviving a slew of bloodbaths with his both wife and 5 year old daughter Joey & Taylor, Stefanie Von Pfetten & Katelyn Mager, kidnapped and almost killed in the process the final showdown between Genn and those out to get him comes down to him meeting his former and fellow KGB Agent Valdin, who's life Genn saved, played by an almost unorganizable Bo Svenson. I didn't realize that he was in the movie or who he played in it until I read the films closing credits! The final shoot-out tops all the others in the movie with at first Genn, who's job was to knock off Vadin, letting down his guard and getting captured by the Valdin hoodlums! But in the end the Cohiba Havana cigar, costing as much as $35.00 a piece, that Valdin offered Genn that he at first turned down, Genn had given up smoking, turned out to be a life saver for him!