"When a contract killer has a rapidly evolving form of dementia, he is offered an opportunity to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son." 

OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

Knox Goes Away is a gripping tale of a contract killer who must mend ties with his estranged son before losing his mind to an aggressive form of dementia. Michael Keaton stars and directs in this brooding drama crafted with precision and bolstered by superb performances and an enveloping story filled with suspense and wonder. 

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Full disclosure: I selected this movie for review solely based on the idea of Michael Keaton as lead, and he did not disappoint. He is at the top of his game in the lead role of John Knox, a seasoned murderer for hire who has a penchant for literature and killing people for profit. When he is diagnosed with a rare accelerated brain disease and only weeks to live, he scrambles to set things right in his life and with his family before he goes away for good. 

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His distant son (James Marsden) shows up unannounced at John’s house in desperate need of help after a vengeful aggravated murder of his young daughter’s abusive, predatory neo-nazi boyfriend. Despite their fractured father-son relationship, his son knows his dad is the only one that can help him and John begins to form a master plan to help his son get away with murder but must battle his own mind to see it through to fruition before it’s too late.

Michael Keaton directs this film as well, which is something I didn’t realize until the closing credits. Knox is only his second directorial outing, his first being all the way back in 2008. You would never guess the limited directorial filmography based on the quality of filmmaking on display. The cinematography is dark and gritty and Reminiscent of David Fincher-esque lighting and ambiance. It has a similar mood and feel to Fincher’s The Killer, but without an overabundance of The Smiths.

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The script penned by Gregory Poirier features charming, witty dialogue and an engrossing story that weaves in and out of an intricate web of plot twists flawlessly and lands smoothly at its satisfying conclusion. 

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Keaton and the entire cast and crew of Knox Goes Away collaborated to make something special and memorable on film that’s well worth the price of admission.