Suicide Kings Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich college kids play a deadly game of Clue with a real mobster and lose a finger, but gain a whole lot of distrust and vitamin K deficiency.

🍿 Suicide Kings: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Kidnapping Plot

A group of privileged college friends – Avery, Max, Brett, and T.K. – find themselves in a desperate situation when Avery’s sister, Elise, is kidnapped and held for a $2 million ransom. Lacking the funds and trusting no one, they concoct a risky plan: kidnap Carlo Bartolucci, a retired mob boss known as Charlie Barret, hoping to leverage his connections and wealth to secure Elise’s release.

Captivity and Interrogation

The friends successfully kidnap Charlie, but their inexperience quickly becomes apparent. They hold him captive at the home of their unsuspecting friend, Ira, and to prove their seriousness, they cut off one of Charlie’s fingers. Charlie, though physically restrained, begins to psychologically manipulate his captors, exploiting their weaknesses and sowing discord among them.

Lono’s Investigation

Meanwhile, Charlie’s loyal enforcer, Lono Veccio, begins his own investigation to locate his boss. Lono’s methods are brutal and effective, as he intimidates and coerces information from various contacts within the city’s underbelly. His relentless pursuit tightens the noose around the amateur kidnappers.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Carlo Bartolucci/Charlie Barret (Christopher Walken): A former mob boss who is kidnapped by a group of young men seeking his help in rescuing a kidnapped woman.
• Lono Veccio (Denis Leary): Charlie’s loyal and violent bodyguard who relentlessly searches for his kidnapped boss.
• Max Minot (Sean Patrick Flanery): The boyfriend of the kidnapped Elise, involved in the initial kidnapping of Charlie and later revealed to be part of the larger scheme.
• Avery Chasten (Henry Thomas): The brother of Elise who initiates the kidnapping of Charlie due to his sister’s abduction and his own debt.
• Brett Cambell (Jay Mohr): One of Avery’s friends, a volatile and angry participant in Charlie’s kidnapping.
• T. K. (Jeremy Sisto): A medical student and friend of Avery’s who assists in the kidnapping of Charlie.
• Elise Chasten (Laura Harris): Avery’s kidnapped sister, who is later revealed to be the mastermind behind a scheme to fake her kidnapping.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lono Veccio: “Well, if you give me a couple minutes of your time, I got a few things I’d like to talk to ya about… me and Mr. Mantle are gonna pay you a visit, my friend.” – Lono delivers this monologue to an abusive step-father, threatening him with a baseball bat, showcasing his brutal yet protective nature.
• Carlo Bartolucci: “I’m looking at dead men.” – Charlie says this after waking up, discovering his finger is missing, realizing the gravity of the situation.
• Ira Reder: “That is not poker!” – Ira exclaims this upon walking into his house and discovering Carlo tied to a chair.
• Lono Veccio: “I didn’t even know stingrays had skin.” – Lono says this referring to his expensive stingray boots.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,740,156
• Worldwide Gross: $1,740,156

💥 Suicide Kings Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this back in the day and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. Walken is mesmerizing! The whole premise of these privileged guys trying to play tough is hilarious. I loved the diner scene with Denis Leary. It’s just so unexpected and intense. It’s not a perfect movie, some of the twists are a bit much, but it’s definitely a fun ride.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of crime thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy dark humor”
  • “Christopher Walken fans”
  • “People who like movies with plot twists”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “”Suicide Kings” is a stylish but ultimately shallow crime thriller. Walken delivers a captivating performance, but the convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters leave the film feeling less impactful than it aims to be. The tension is palpable, but the resolution feels rushed.
• The New York Times: “While boasting a strong cast, “Suicide Kings” suffers from an overly complex narrative. The Tarantino-esque dialogue and stylized violence attempt to mask a lack of substance. Leary’s performance provides some levity, Walken is reliably unsettling, but the whole package is uneven.
• Los Angeles Times: “”Suicide Kings” is a surprisingly effective thriller that benefits from sharp writing and strong performances. Christopher Walken is mesmerizing, and the twists and turns keep you guessing. Though it borrows from the crime genre, it carves out its own niche with dark humor and unsettling suspense.

Audience Reactions

Christopher Walken’s performance steals the show, even while tied to a chair.: Viewers consistently praise Walken’s charisma and the film’s unexpected plot twists.

Denis Leary’s character provides the perfect blend of humor and brutality.: The dark humor and the unexpected violence appealed to most viewers

Overall Consensus: A stylish crime thriller elevated by Christopher Walken’s performance, despite a convoluted plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The shot on TV with Heckel and Jeckel in the apartment is actually a snippet from Reservoir Dogs (1992). This is because the director could only use stock from other films owned by Artisan Entertainment.”
• “The film features a number of actors known for comedic roles, such as Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, and Brad Garrett, adding a layer of dark humor to the crime thriller.”
• “The movie’s ending was reportedly altered based on test audience reactions, leading to a potentially different final outcome than originally intended.”

🖥️ How to Watch Suicide Kings?

As of October 2024, “Suicide Kings” is available for purchase or rental on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability and pricing in your region. Unfortunately, it is not typically available on major subscription streaming services like Netflix or Hulu.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Suicide Kings, you might like these similar films:

• Reservoir Dogs (1992): Both feature a crime gone wrong, with a focus on the tension and dynamics within a group of criminals.
• The Usual Suspects (1995): Similar plot twists and unreliable narrators, leading to a suspenseful and unpredictable conclusion.
• Very Bad Things (1998): Dark comedy involving a group of friends who try to cover up an accidental crime, escalating into a series of increasingly poor decisions.

🛒 Suicide Kings Related Products

• Reservoir Dogs (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: If you enjoyed the tense, dialogue-heavy scenes and stylized violence of ‘Suicide Kings’, this Criterion Collection Blu-ray of Tarantino’s classic crime film ‘Reservoir Dogs’ is a must-own.
• Pulp Fiction (Blu-ray): For fans of dark comedy, twisted plots, and iconic dialogue, this Tarantino classic is quintessential. It’s not only the source of Suicide Kings inspiration, but a film that continues to redefine modern cinema. A definite must own for any movie buff.
• Christopher Walken: The Unofficial Story: Dive deeper into the career of the iconic Christopher Walken with this book! Christopher Walken is an American actor. Prolific in films, television and on stage, Walken is the recipient of numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, as well as nominations for an Emmy Award and a Tony Award.
• Denis Leary – No Cure for Cancer: Experience Denis Leary’s raw and unfiltered comedic genius with his stand-up special, ‘No Cure for Cancer’. If you enjoyed his sharp wit and cynical humor in Suicide Kings, this will be the stand-up show you’ve been waiting for. This album shows Denis Leary at his best: caustic, sarcastic and loud.

🎧 Soundtrack

Suicide Kings features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Shattered” – performed by Frankie Blue, Cinjun Tate

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Jay Mohr Tells a funny Christopher Walken Story #shorts #funny

Ever wonder what it’s like to work with Christopher Walken? Jay Mohr’s got a hilarious story from the ‘Suicide Kings’ set that you won’t believe. I almost choked on my coffee laughing!

Jay Mohr tells a crazy Christopher Walken Story #shorts

This Jay Mohr story about Christopher Walken is wild! Apparently Walken thought Mohr was mocking him on set. I can’t imagine crossing Walken, can you?

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