Christian Slater stars as a former FBI agent relocated in Bulgaria in routine thriller “Assassin’s Bullet,” but the pic’s raison d’etre is female lead, Elika Portnoy, marking the third time she’s had a hand in writing a vehicle for herself. Cast as a troubled woman who moonlights as a “Femme Nikita”-type assassin, she makes an equally nondescript impression in three roles mostly distinguished by their wigs. While adequately packaged by direct-to-vid action vet Isaac Florentine, the pic doesn’t best exploit his experience in staging martial arts fights. U.S. theatrical launch Aug. 3 will serve mostly to promote the VOD rollout.
Robert (Slater) has landed in Sofia to distance himself emotionally and geographically from his wife’s shooting death four years earlier. Blonde Vicky (Portnoy) is also traumatized by loss: As a child, a suicide bomber killed her parents. It doesn’t take long to realize she’s also the brunette mystery woman assassinating infamous Muslim jihadists; you might well guess the real identify of a redheaded belly-dancer who seduces Robert, too. Much of this makes little sense, but it’s hard to care. Donald Sutherland and Timothy Spall punch the clock in supporting roles.
