Kill List (2011)

Having gone to this with the least amount of expectation despite the glowing reviews, I bow down and admit my ignorance and prejudice: this is every bit as good as it's made out to be. Not only is this one of the best hitman films I have ever seen, it is also a cracking horror.

Jay (Neil Maskell), 8 months since his return from Iraq, is reluctant to return to his pre-war occupation, mostly because of his ailing back. His beautiful wife Shel (MyAnna Buring) thinks it's all in his head and frequently reminds him that they are running out of money. They fight constantly, but theirs is not a relationship to be rocked by a global financial crisis. Not only held together by their devotion to their young son, they are well and truly in love with each other. But times are tough and Jay needs to take care of his family. Enter Gal (Michael Smiley), Jay's comrade-in-arms and best friend. After a double date dinner night at Jay and Shel's home (and a rather nasty argument between the hosts), Gal convinces Jay to join him for a "job".