The Killing Zone

Director Ian David Diaz worked miracles to get this ultra-low-budget British thriller even made, although it remains a very uneven ride. Padraig Casey is the ultra-cool, saxophone-playing professional hitman, who fancies himself as Michael Caine in his Harry Palmer period. He agrees to take one last job, but finds his enemies may be closer to him than he originally thought. It grew out of a short Diaz had made years earlier, and that is its biggest problem: it actually feels like three different films, linked together very tenuously. Still, full marks for ambition, and there are enough witty touches to suggest that he may be a director to watch in the future.