68 KILL:SXSW MOVIE REVIEW

68 Kill, adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, stars Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) and AnnaLynne McCord (Excision) as Chip and Liza, a young couple whose plan to steal $68,000 from Liza’s sugar daddy leads to something more deranged and violent.

This punk-rock grind-house thriller won the Audience Award: Midnight Movie at SXSW and was the talk of the festival, and understandably so. Writer/Director Trent Haaga (Cheap Thrills, Deadgirl) is no newcomer to genre films, and here he goes into full-exploitation mode. 68 Kill really goes for gratuity with sex, drugs, and a whole lot of blood. 

What stood out to me the most were the performances from Gubler, McCord, and Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why), who heighten the film’s energy with their eccentric performances. That being said, towards the end, it can become somewhat tiresome, with the introduction of some obnoxious characters that verge on overkill. Running at a short 93 minutes, 68 Kill is a fun ride for genre fans.

*IFC Midnight is set to distribute 68 Kill with a release date set for August 4th.*

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JORDAN FIGUEREDO

WRITER JORDAN FIGUEREDO

Jordan Figueredo is an actor and content writer specializing in film criticism and cultural commentary. He has attended various festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival and South by Southwest. Figueredo can also be seen onstage, winning Best Supporting Actor in Plant Theater Co.’s production of Squat in 2016.

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