The 2024 release of Kill ’Em All 2 is the sequel to the action-thriller Kill ‘Em All that came out in 2017. It breaks no new ground as it brings back the over-the-top fantastical energy associated with Jean-Claude Van Damme films. Valeri Milev directed the film and James Agnew wrote it. This installment renews the legacy of vintage action movies with the return of Van Damme into the quintessential role of the cold-blooded ex-CIA Phillip. Although the film did not have a theatrical run and was released as direct-to-digital, the genre’s fanatics and long-time followers of Van Damme’s career were buzzing about it.
🧨 Synopsis
Set seven years after the first movie, Kill ‘Em All 2 shows retired CIA operative Phillip living a quiet life in the Italian countryside. He is a man who comes with a history rife with violence, and his greatest desire is to lead a peaceful life with his daughter, Vanessa. Unfortunately, this quiet life is bound to be disrupted when the shadow from his past, Vlad Petrovic, the brother of a war criminal Phillip took care of in the first film, returns.
As Vlad, his menacing character, captured by Andrei Lenart, seeks vengeance, he appears intent on pursuing Phillip. Vlad has reached the quietest of villages and now Phillip is boxed in with mercenaries on Three Sides. What initially feels like personal vendetta slowly morphs into an advertised evento on the ticker, siege warfare with Phillip and Vanessa defending not only their territory and themselves, but also other innocent civilians who get stuck in the crossfire.
Jacqueline Fernandez portrays Vanessa, who is certainly not a damsel in distress. With training from her father and plenty of energy to sustain, Vanessa ensures that she repesents the fierce spirit we expect her to. His daughter and father relationship turns into the spine of this narrative, which becomes another piece of a bone that connects positive humanity, emotion, and all the violence that leads to a bloodbath.
Explosive confrontations alongside Phillip’s high-stakes shootouts and brutal hand-to-hand combat sequences serve to amplify the violence we expect in a Van Damme film. Veloz’s mercenaries begin tightening the noose around Phillip, against his will, and he recalls the deadly skills and tactics he wished to unlearn with a horrifying sense of nostalgia.
🎬 Cast & Crew
Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Phillip, the leading character of the series, who is a restless warrior hoping to find solace and peace along with some semblance of redemption. But, his warrior past makes that impossible. The rage with which the Van Damme character is portrayed, makes it obvious the man knows violence, but deeply wishes to escape it. Though his performance feels intense, indeed it is intensely dialed back for the character.
Jacqueline Fernandez as Vanessa: The daughter of Phillip, Vanessa is a mixed bag of resourceful, capable and fiery. Along with the rest of the cast, she infuses youthful exuberance which helps add dimension to the secondary antagonistic figure and elevate the film beyond yet another revenge saga.
Andrei Lenart as Vlad Petrovic: The cold and ruthless villain of the film. The role is complex in nature and Andrei brings in that silent menace to this character – a quintessential brute who is a danger both physically and mentally.
Peter Stormare as Agent Holman: An ex CIA colleague of Phillip who comes out of the shadows to caution Phillip of impending danger. Stormare doesn’t have much of a role but his cameo does provide some depth to what Phillip has done in the past.
Maria Conchita Alonso as Agent Sanders: A no nonsense FBI agent who is intricately entangled in the politics of Phillip’s predicament. She strategically adds bureaucratic friction to an otherwise action-filled narrative.
Nicolas Van Varenberg as Ivan: A secondary antagonist who is Vlad’s second-in-command, He has an important combat scene with Vanessa.
Dimitar Doychinov as Kaz and Talia Asseraf as Lydia: These two portray supporting roles that offer timely traces of compassion alongside the primary conflict and help diverse the the brutal story line.
Izzy The Hitman’s Italian suburb setting captures the feel of Italy’s countryside, while its rural yet graphic nature serves as the basis for Angelo Stramaglia’s cinematographic work and Alessandro Heffler’s tight pacing. Aldo Shllaku also helps emphasize every given scene through a heavy-handed yet tense score reminiscent of dramatic orchestrations.
⭐ IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
With an IMDb scoring of approximately 4.1/10, Kill ‘Em All 2 has been subjected to mixed reviews. While many viewers appreciated the revisitation of 90s-esque action films offered through Van Damme’s appearance, others critiqued poor sequel originality and the film lacking in nuanced execution.
Focusing on the criticism, some common gripes include:
Overly reliant on pre-existing action films due to scant content.
ostuspect villains paired with an unimaginative tale lacking turns.
Many identified redeeming moments, especially with long-time fans of Van Damme noting his portrayal as a seasoned character provided some relief. Additionally, the Hollywood action figure does not lose herself in the portrayal of his counterpart’s girlfriend, something that urges praise alongside her competent performance in the action scenes. Lastly, it is worth mentioning the choreography: while not groundbreaking, the coordinated movement did deliver the kind of raw effort that has been synonymous with the action star.
Although the film does not implement any new techniques for storytelling or visuals, it still provides a good amount of action and a simple plot focused on revenge. For followers of classic action films, that is more than enough.
🎞️ Final Thoughts
For the modern viewer, Kill ’Em All 2 is perhaps the most extreme example of a movie that feels designed for a very select group of people. Those who enjoy a straight-forward action film featuring an aging martial arts hero will love it. It’s unapologetically a low-budget, high-octane, revenge story wrapped in nostalgic undertones. Even if he noticeably moves with less vigor than before, Van Damme still commands the screen, and that’s what made him famous all those years ago.
The father-daughter relationship aims to add some level of emotional nuance, but ultimately this is an unabashed tribute to the open-armed embrace of action films from the late 80s and early 90s — filled with an abundance of gun fights, back-stabbings, and petty feuds. It may not bring anything new to the table, but it certainly sticks to its brand.
Ultimately, while Kill ‘Em All 2 may not win any critical accolades, it provides a decent and occasionally entertaining experience for players who enjoyed the first installment or are simply looking for a hit of nostalgic action. It isn’t refined and it isn’t revolutionary, but it does deliver ample satisfaction—and accomplishes a great deal in the process—similar to the lead character.
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