The Hunter's Prayer

Jonathan Mostow's fast-moving but brainless action film stars Sam Worthington as Lucas, a hit-man assigned by ruthless British crime lord Addison (Allen Leech) to kill Ella (Odeya Rush), an American student at a posh Swiss prep school, whose father has betrayed Addison. Lucas balks at carrying out the job—he is wrestling with estrangement from his own daughter (as well as with drug addiction)—so he instead rescues Ella from Addison's thugs. A cross-continent chase ensues, as the pair are repeatedly trapped by their pursuers and barely evade death while bonding along the way towards a predictable final confrontation. Although Mostow is an experienced action director, his efforts are undone by the script's reliance on the hoariest of devices—ridiculous hair-breadth escapes made possible by the fact that Addison's handpicked men seem to be among the world's worst shots. And the chase is continually interrupted by Lucas's sappy backstory (military service, addiction, marital difficulties), presented in sluggish drug-induced flashbacks. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)