Out for a Kill (2003)

An unsuspecting university professor is an unwitting accomplice in a foiled Chinese cocaine deal. Wrongly imprisoned, he escapes to take his revenge and prove his innocence.

Director:

Michael Oblowitz

Writers:

Danny Lerner (story), Dennis Dimster (screenplay) (as Dennis Dimster-Denk)

Stars:

Steven Seagal, Michelle Goh, Corey Johnson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Goh	...	Tommie Ling
Steven Seagal	...	Prof. Robert Burns
Corey Johnson	...	Ed Grey
Tom Wu	...	Li Bo
Ozzie Yue	...	Fang Lee, 'The Barber'
Bruce Wang	...	Tang Zhili, 'The Bird'
Chike Chan	...	Mr. Chang
Hon Ping Tang	...	Sai Lo
Dave Wong	...	Yin Quinshi
Chooye Bay	...	Wong Dai (as Chooi Kheng Beh)
Elaine Tan	...	Luo Yi
Michael J. Reynolds	...	Dean
Kata Dobó	...	Maya Burns (as Kata Dobo)
Vincent Wong	...	Luo Dazhong
Ray Charleson	...	Harry 'Crash' Kupper

Storyline

Archeology Professor Robert Burns is on location leading an important dig in the ancient ruins on the Far Eastern Chinese border. He accidentally discovers that the Chinese Mafia, the Tong, is using his newly discovered ancient Chinese artifacts to hide and smuggle narcotics across the border. Robert immediately tries to flee with his assistant and narrowly manages to escape the pursuing Tong but not without a heavy price. His loyal assistant is killed and he is framed with the evidence at the Chinese border by the Chinese military and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. He is locked up in a Chinese prison where he is guilty until proven innocent. His loving wife Maya vows to help get him out of jail. The DEA finally convinces the Chinese military that Robert may be of more help to them outside jail by leading them to the real smugglers. Once he leaves his Chinese prison cell Robert would rather enjoy his freedom back in the U.S. and keep his past behind him, but The Tong catches up to him ...

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Plot Keywords:

prison | professor | revenge | artifact | chinese military | 

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Taglines:

The Drug Lords Must Go Down...

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language, nudity and some drug content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Uncredited writer Sam Hayes was assigned to touch up the original script without knowing the film was to star Steven Seagal. The producers claimed that Hayes' version, which was set in Mexico, would cost too much to film, and thus, very little of his material remains in the finished movie.

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Goofs

When in the Chinese Barber Shop, the barber pulls the blind down over the door, a few seconds later, he closes it again.

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Quotes

Prof. Robert Burns: I have to go to the bathroom.

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Connections

Spoofs Chinatown (1974)

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Soundtracks

Frozen
Written by Klayton
Performed by Celldweller
Courtesy of Esion Media
By Arrangement with Position Music

User Reviews

What a total disaster!

Where, oh, where do you begin talking about the plethora of problems with a film like this? This film is technically and artistically inept from beginning to end. It plays as if it were literally assembled out of scenes from other films and slapped together as this mess. Most of Seagal's dialogue was added in post-production because he's always speaking when he's out of frame -- an obvious sign that this thing - story and all - was basically created in the cutting room. The director uses odd transitions and focus pulls for no reason. Boring slow motion scenes are an obvious attempt to push the movie out to a full 90 minutes. Transitions are abrupt and make no sense -- all of a sudden Seagal is in the middle of a car chase that goes nowhere. Characters appear from nowhere, and lesser characters suddenly have voice-over inner monologues that make no sense. Every rule of common sense filmmaking and storytelling are completely broken. The plot makes no sense. Everytime we see the bad guys they are in the same room, at the same table, wearing the same clothes -- again, obviously shot in one day to piece this tub O' crap together in post production. The editing is choppy, the action clumsy, and the climax is a total joke. To be avoided at all costs. Surely one of the worst films made in recent memory. Seriously -- what were they thinking? Garbage.

Details

Country:

Aruba USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Out for a Kill

Filming Locations:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$547,333

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Luminocity Productions, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS (5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1