Firing out of the gate like the locomotive it takes place upon, Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s revenge thriller Kill was an instant favorite at last year’s TIFF when it played in its “Midnight Madness” section. The ultra-violent, impressively choreographed barnburner drew immediate comparisons to The Raid and John Wick from the raucous audience of genre fans. Having two of the best action films of this century bandied about next to yours would be exciting for anyone, but for director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, a surprising influence served as his North Star.
