| The Hit List | |
| Director: | William Kaufman |
| Music: | Deane Ogden |
| Cinematography: | Mark Rutledge |
| Editing: | Jason A. Payne |
| Distributor: | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| Runtime: | 91 minutes[1] |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | $6 million |
The Hit List is a 2011 American action thriller film directed by William Kaufman. The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr., with a supporting cast of Cole Hauser, Jonathan LaPaglia and Ginny Weirick. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on May 10, 2011.[2]
Allan Campbell, a once hopeful engineer from Spokane, Washington, is having the worst day of his life. After being passed over for a well-deserved promotion, Allan comes home to find his wife Sydney Campbell in the arms of his best friend Mike Dodd. As if that wasn't enough, Allan's shady Mexican business partner, Dom Estacado, continues to threaten and manipulate him. His colleague Brian Felzner is preferred during the hoped-for promotion. Drowning his sorrows at a local bar, Allan meets a stranger named Jonas Arbor, who offers him an unconventional solution to his problems.
In his drunken state, Allan shares his tale of woe with Jonas, who encourages him to focus on a way to dismantle his frustration. In a surprising turn of events, Jonas reveals that he is a contract killer, and suggests that targeting those who have wronged Allan could provide the vengeance he seeks. Doubtful and more than a little drunk, Allan writes down a list of five people who have caused him pain, her wife and his best friend Sydney and Mike was killed, its creditor and his work colleague Dom and Brian was killed, his boss Drake Ford.
As Allan returns from the bathroom, he goes to the toilet and when he comes back, Jonas has disappeared, leaving behind only the incriminating bar napkin. Panicked and sobering up quickly, Allan realizes that Jonas might have been serious and that his list could be a recipe for disaster. Still, the temptation of revenge weighs heavily on his mind, and Allan struggles to decide whether or not to take Jonas' offer seriously.
The next morning, Allan is stunned to learn that Drake Ford was found brutally murdered in his home the previous night. The cold hard truth sinks in: Jonas was not just blowing smoke. Allan is now a target, with his own life on the line. In a frenzy of fear, he makes a desperate attempt to warn the remaining individuals on his list.
The police leads by detective Neil McKay, become more involved, Allan and Jonas find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse. The hunt for Jonas and justice for the victims becomes the top priority, and the stakes are higher than ever before. With each passing day, the likelihood of survival for Allan and the four remaining targets on his deadly list grows increasingly slim.
Cornered and fearing for his life, Allan takes matters into his own hands, attempting to stop Jonas before it's too late. Ticking the clock, the pressure mounts for both men, and a violent confrontation becomes inevitable. The only one of them will be left standing, and the outcome will change the lives of everyone involved. The contract comes to a close, leaving behind a trail of blood and a starting will undone that will not be forgotten.
Actor Christian Slater, who also starred with Cuba Gooding Jr. in Lies & Illusions as well as Sacrifice, was originally rumored to play the part of Allan Campbell. Slater co-starred with Hauser in the film Shadows of the White Nights.
The writers of Hero Wanted, and also starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., penned the screenplay, while several of the producers of Hero Wanted, End Game, and Wrong Turn at Tahoe produced.
Director William Kaufman of the 2005 indie action thriller The Prodigy was chosen to direct.
Filming took place in Spokane, Washington in early 2010. The local police in Spokane refused to officially participate in the film's production because of the film's depiction of violence toward police officers. This is due to the 2009 shooting of Lakewood, Washington, police officers, which occurred two months before principal photography began.[3] [4] [5]
DVD was released in Region 2 in the United Kingdom on 9 May 2011, and also Region 1 in the United States on May 10, 2011, it was distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.[6] [7]