First Kill (2017)

Film Overview
"First Kill" is an action thriller movie directed by Steven C. Miller, released in 2017. The film features Hayden Christensen as Will, a Wall Street broker, and Bruce Willis as Police Chief Howell. The film's story focuses on Will's brave journey of rescuing his kidnapped boy from the hands of a dangerous criminal group.

Plot Summary
The movie opens with Hayden Christensen's character, Will Beamon, as a high-powered Wall Street broker who decides to take his household on a vacation back to his home town in order to connect with his roots and teach his child, Danny, how to hunt. Throughout their hunting journey, they come across a gunfight between Levi, a bank robber, and another male, leaving Levi hurt. Will steps in, leading to the other male getting killed, and Levi becomes much more hostile.

Will recovers a secret from the dead man's body-- a key to a locker including the taken money from Levi's heist. But when Levi learns about it, he abducts Will's kid, Danny, demanding the key in exchange for Danny's life. Will goes into complete survival mode; his hunt is no longer for wildlife but for his boy's captors.

Character's Development
Despite his upper-middle-class broker background, Will summons the natural survival skills of his rural training. He ends up being a one-man army on a mission, facing numerous risks as he traces his boy's kidnappers. All at once, the Police Chief Howell (Bruce Willis) conducts his encouraging yet suspicious examination into the kidnapping circumstance. The audience experiences a character-rich story with a powerful mix of fear, perseverance, drama, and suspense as Will maneuvers his way through this crisis.

Climax and Conclusion
The climax of the film brings an amazing twist as Attorney Marvin Howell (Bruce Willis) exposes himself as Levi's uncle, who was the mastermind behind the bank heist. Even as the danger escalates, Will uses his wits and nerve to take advantage of the circumstance, ultimately saving his kid and retrieving the stolen cash. In the end, the Police Chief is apprehended for his involvement with the criminal activities, and Will go back to his life, more bonded with his kid than ever.

Important Reception
"First Kill" received lukewarm reactions from audiences and critics alike. The efficiency of Hayden Christensen as Will was valued, however Bruce Willis's somewhat clichéd role as the corrupt police chief got blended reviews. The film was applauded for its stunning rural settings that provided an authentic backdrop for the story's gritty themes. Nevertheless, aspects of the film's pacing and the predictability of the twist were slammed.

In a nutshell, "First Kill" is a high-stakes survival thriller film where a Wall Street broker faces his rural past in a fight against time and risk for his kid's life.

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