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(Rating: 15, 105 mins) Written by Zen Terrelonge

Starring – Jason Statham, Robert De Niro, Clive Owen.

The Stathanator is a big enough draw to pull in cinemagoers, now combined with screen legend Robert De Niro and King Arthur star Clive Owen sporting a tache, in the eighties, with guns – yes, this is Killer Elite.

Set between 1980-81, the film is based on true events that occurred around the secret SAS war in Oman, which to this day has been denied fully by the powers that be.

Our leading man is Danny Bryce (Statham), a mercenary that starts his journey in Mexico with partner and mentor Hunter (De Niro) and upon completion of their mission, Danny decides he’s had enough and wants out so he can start his life over again.

He gets his wish and leaves for Australia, but his peace is short lived as he receives a piece of post worse than any bill or speeding fine, Hunter is being held hostage and Danny knowing he has no choice, must accept the situation and go to his rescue.

Danny flies to the Arabian Peninsula where he finds out just why Hunter has been captured, it turns out a sheik wants Danny’s expertise to complete a revenge mission for him in exchange for his aging ex-partner’s release.

Grudgingly accepting his task, Danny flies to Paris to rendezvous with some old friends, requesting their assistance for the mission. The mission itself is to take out three members of the SAS (piece of cake) that killed the sheik’s sons, but the catch is each death must look like an accident (not so cake like).

Now the SAS are tricky blighters as it is but with the help of The Feather Men, the secret organisation hiding the involvement with Oman War and their angry man Spike (Owen) gradually getting hungrier as he suspects foul play, it’s only a matter of time until he and Danny cross paths.

It’s definitely worth the wait as a brilliantly constructed fight scene takes place in a hospital operating room, the two men go head to head as Statham utilises his karate and kickboxing prowess that has been demonstrated in previous films. 

A great action with a consistent pace, Statham, De Niro and Owen are a brilliant team and the film comes complete with unexpected twists along the way.

The film trots around the globe during the course of its run, ticking off England, France, Oz and the Middle East as the plane hopping creates a real sense of adventure.

The film seems a bit like licking honey from a thistle, its had quite a lot of negative reviews but I must ask you this. With guns, fights and Statham jumping through a window whilst tied to a chair, what more is required from an action film? It hits all the key genre nails on the head.

The Stathanator does what he does best, Clive Owen is a one eyed madman and De Niro is a backside-kicking, bearded granddad, all the right ingredients of a good action film.

8/10

Killer Elite is available now on DVD and Blu-ray.