‘Kate’ review: Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars in a Netflix action movie that looks D.O.A. in more ways than one
Likewise, Kate – a Tokyo-based hitman – drinks a slow-acting poison, giving her a day to track down the person responsible, slashing and shooting her across Japan. She brings bad news to the boss who raised her, played by Woody Harrelson, who can play this fascinating assassin in his sleep.
Under the helm of French director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (“The Huntsman: Winter’s War”), a film like this ultimately achieves the quality of action sequences that are both rich and exceptionally gory. Kate absorbs a lot of punishment and dishes out more, using guns, knives, fists and when pressing common kitchen appliances.
However, there is not much mystery in the “why” of it all, and try a beat that is almost impossible to predict completely. The film thus becomes a prolonged bout of violence for its sake, with the certainty of Kate’s fate only further dampening any suspense about where the story is headed.
Netflix’s focus on offering original movies has of late included a steady diet of forgettable horror movies with watch-worthy leads, including “Sweet Girl” and “Beckett,” starring Jason Momoa and John David Washington, respectively.
Look, we get it, people are looking for new things to see, including mindless escapism. However, in terms of any kind of inspiration or originality, “Kate,” the movie, is exactly as DOA as Kate, the character.
“Kate” opens September 10 in select US theaters and on Netflix. It is rated R.
