Polar: A Netflix Original

Common film sequence proves time and time again that unfinished business in your past will haunt you. But in the case of Duncan Vizler, also known as The Black Kaiser, a visit from the past turns into much needed closure.

Hitting [Netflix] on Friday, January 25, Polar feels like John Wick cranked up way past 11. The action may not be quite as exquisite, but there’s a brutality to Polarthat’s just as satisfying, even when director Jonas Åkerlund (a goth punk Scandinavian best known for his Beyonce music videos) seems most interested in making the audience squirm in their seats.\There’s endless violence, torture porn, and an actual (softcore) porn scene starring Mads Mikkelsen. Buried under all that, there’s also a touching story about two depressed people struggling to find their own humanity, but considering its launchpad on Netflix, Polar makes it dangerously easy to switch over to The Office when things get ugly.

For years, Duncan has been a top employee at Damocles, a shadowy cabal of killers run by doughy-faced psycho Mr. Blut (Matt Lucas). Duncan's scars are plentiful and even if he's still very good at his job, retirement is beckoning. Upon joining this butcher's guild, each assassin signs a contract complete with IRA or the equivalent. Duncan's post-service take-home is topping out at $8 million, so it seems like a good time to live that quiet cabin life he's been dreaming about. The problem is that Mr. Blut has been pulling a fast one. Also in his workers' contracts is a clause that states if an assassin dies pre-retirement, all their money goes to Damocles. Once a hitman calls it a day, the last hit is on him.

Polar feels like two separate movies stitched together. While the evil assassins go around slaughtering random civilians or shaking their butts for the camera, the Black Kaiser moves to a small town and befriends a nervous local woman called Camille (Vanessa Hudgens). We know he’ll end up protecting her from something, because it’s that kind of movie. While the female villains dress like Sin Citycharacters, Camille is vulnerable and wears modest cold-weather gear.