The Kill Room 2023

Reggie, portrayed by Joe Manganiello, is an exceptionally talented assassin who wrestles with a multitude of anger issues. His story begins with a seemingly innocuous act—lying about purchasing a coffee from a nearby store. This seemingly trivial deception serves a purpose; Reggie is checking for any security cameras within the vicinity. Once satisfied that none are present, he brazenly pulls the store owner from behind the counter and brutally suffocates him with a plastic bag, marking a grim start to his day. Despite his dark profession, Reggie is an intriguing character—he enjoys listening to true-crime podcasts as he strolls through the city streets, which adds an ironic twist to his persona.

However, Reggie’s employer finds themselves in a bit of a financial pickle, facing challenges justifying their finances. They opt for an unconventional strategy to obscure their money trail, necessitated by the arrest of their former money launderer—who seamlessly transformed their dirty cash into legitimate funds—now sitting in prison for an extended duration. Enter Uma Thurman as Patrice, an art curator drowning in debt. Her gallery, which displays a collection of stunning paintings, remains perpetually devoid of visitors and patrons.

Learning about Patrice from a friend, Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Gordon, proposes a lucrative deal. He offers to gift Patrice a painting along with a financial sum, in return for a check that excludes her commission. Although the offer is tempting, Patrice initially declines. Nonetheless, after a change of heart following the departure of her most prominent artist to her rival, Nicole, portrayed by Marianne Rendón, she reconsiders Gordon’s proposal.

As the narrative unfolds, Gordon enlists Reggie, but this time, instead of dispatching a target, he entrusts him with a paintbrush and a canvas. Reggie is encouraged to paint whatever comes to mind—be it a pizza, a flailing man in whites, or a vivid cat. This new venture allows Gordon’s associates to purchase Reggie’s works, transforming ill-gotten gains into clean revenue. Patrice’s decision to accept Gordon’s scheme leads to a surprising increase in business at her art gallery, attracting clients previously lost to Nicole.

Reggie quickly blossoms into an overnight sensation. His artwork garners acclaim, with curators from Milan and beyond vying for the chance to showcase his pieces in their galleries. However, Patrice is adamant—she refuses to part with her newfound cash cow, unwilling to share Reggie, the artist that has captivated audiences and critics alike, and dubbed his work as masterpieces.

After a thought-provoking interaction between Patrice and Reggie, she suggests that if he channels his emotions onto the canvas, it will reveal his inner soul. Following this conversation, Patrice stumbles upon an unsettling discovery while perusing Reggie’s apartment—a collection of blood-stained plastic bags, which she decides to display as “The Reflection of Consumerism.” Yet, the dark reality is that these bags were once used in Reggie’s gruesome exploits, leaving a chilling atmosphere.

In a striking twist, Patrice hosts a revealing party to debut Reggie’s latest collection, where the truth emerges about Reggie’s grim background as a hitman. The shocking realization leaves her gagging after witnessing the very plastic bags that facilitated his dark deeds used as art. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Patrice grapples with the ramifications and the potential prison time that looms over her for her involvement in laundering money through an art gallery linked to a killer. The unfolding chaos, incomprehensibly, elevates both her career and Reggie’s notoriety, his alias, “Bagman,” making headlines as critics coo over his emotionally charged art.

On the other side of the narrative, Reggie’s boss, Andre, grows increasingly apprehensive about their operation attracting unwanted attention, warning both Patrice and Reggie that it could jeopardize their illegal activities. Tired of his murderous occupation, Reggie yearns for a new life—one where he paints and expresses himself freely.

When Patrice connects them with a formidable arms dealer, Ramen Rashikov, their plans escalate. With a cunning scheme laid out, Reggie meets with Rashikov under the guise of an artist, while conspiring to eliminate him. The monumental climax arrives as Reggie executes the final painting, intertwining the act of murder with artistic flair, effectively leading to Rashikov’s demise while simultaneously enacting their plans of money laundering by selling the auctions of Reggie’s deadly craftsmanship.

Patrice finds herself intricately woven into a web of deceit and dark artistry, where she upholds her position by threatening Andre with evidence should harm come her way. As the final act of this gripping tale unfolds, the line between art and crime blurs, leaving both characters navigating a perilous balance of risk and reward, encapsulating the chaotic world they’ve entwined themselves in.