An underrated action film is gaining attention from Netflix viewers with some describing it as a ‘female John Wick’.
The action-packed thriller titled Kate, was originally released back in 2021, and has been exclusively added to the streaming service. While it may have received little fanfare at the time, many film buffs are advising their fellow subscribers to add it to their watchlist.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, famed for roles in Scott Pilgrim vs the World. 10 Cloverfield Lane and Star Wars Disney+ series Ahsoka, plays the role of Kate. Kate is an assassin who eliminates targets chosen by her mentor Varrick, played by Woody Harrelson, who raised her when she was orphaned.
While taking on her final mission she misses her target and later discovers she was poisoned. Upon discovering she only has one day left to live, she vows revenge on whoever was responsible for poisoning her.
Elizabeth Winstead has received plenty of praise for her performance in the film from fans, with many comparing her to a female version of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick series. One fan posted online saying: “If John Wick was a woman, he’d be Kate minus the head shots. The movie is a string of fresh detailed action sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat through out the movie.”
Another agreed, echoing that one of the strong points of the film is its action sequences. They said: “Kate is a pretty fair action thriller that is like a female version of John Wick. About a female assassin Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who gets poisoned and only has one day to live.
“So she decides to go after her target which may be behind the attack. Only to discover something more. I will say i was entertained throughout with its exciting action sequences.”
The film received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release but they admit that the comparison with familiar action movies is not a bad thing.
A review in the Chiago Sun-Times stated: “So, yes: Kate is John Wick meets Die Hard meets Collateral meets Kill Bill all the volumes and we’ve seen it all before and you’re not going to get much in the way of original plot, but what you WILL get is a grindhouse of a good time with some bleak and wickedly sharp humour, screen-popping visuals and some pretty great fight choreography.”
Kate is streaming on Netflix now.