In similar fashion, Kate — a Tokyo-based killer for hire — ingests a slow-acting poison, giving her a day to track down who was responsible, slashing and shooting her way through much of Japan. She delivers the bad news to the boss who raised her, played by Woody Harrelson, who can play this sort of appealing hitman in his sleep.
Under the stewardship of French director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (“The Huntsman: Winter’s War”), a movie like this ultimately boils down to the quality of the action, and it’s both plentiful and particularly bloody. Kate absorbs an enormous amount of punishment and dishes out far more, using guns, knives, fists and when pressed common kitchen appliances.
Still, there’s not much mystery in the “why” of it all, and nary a beat that doesn’t feel almost wholly predictable. The movie thus becomes one long bout of violence for its own sake, with the inevitability of Kate’s fate only further detracting from any suspense about where the story is heading.
Netflix’s emphasis on providing original movies has of late included a steady diet of forgettable thrillers with high-profile leads, including “Sweet Girl” and “Beckett,” starring Jason Momoa and John David Washington, respectively.
Look, we get it, people are looking for new stuff to watch, mindless escapism included. Still, in terms of any sort of inspiration or originality, “Kate,” the movie, is every bit as D.O.A. as Kate, the character.
“Kate” premieres Sept. 10 in select US theaters and on Netflix. It’s rated R.