Transcript note: This transcript is based on the original working script. It may contain production notes, draft wording, spelling mistakes or other material that differs from the finished video - these scripts were meant to be spoken, not read.

Killing Zoe didn’t exactly earn its reputation, it just survived long enough to grow one.

Although it would make its debut in 1993 it wouldn’t see an official release in 1994

It was a bit of a strange time for films, really.

Reservoir Dogs had shown the world that you didn’t need a lot of money to make a gritty crime film - laced with sharp dialogue, moral ambiguity and a bit of an edge.

Some of them pulled it off.

Most didn't.

This one kind of rode that wave and ended up sitting in the middle of them all.

Let’s take a look at what makes Killing Zoe - Cult, Actually.

[intro]

On paper - It’s a bit of a no brainer.

It was directed by Roger Avary, co-writer of Pulp Fiction - And it had Quentin Tarantino as an Executive Producer.

And it wasn’t afraid to use a lot of space on the cover to tell you its pedigree.

So, it had credibility and style - Which was just enough to make it dangerous.

But Killing Zoe wasn’t trying to copy and paste anything that had come before it.

It was trying to be worse.

On purpose.

The film has us following Zed played by Eric Stoltz - An American safecracker who gets a job in Paris for what sounds like a straightforward enough job.

One night. One Bank. One crew.

It’s all been set up by his friend, Eric - He’s played by Jean-Hugues Anglade.

All sounds simple enough - Right?

Well - No - Nothing about it is actually simple it turns out.

When he arrives in Paris he gets a taxi to his hotel - He gets chatting to the driver, as you do - And - Turns out the driver has a side line as a pimp.

He invites Zed to meet one of his girls while he’s in town and this is how he ends up meeting Zoe.

She’s a French girl and she’s played by Julie Delpy - She’s quiet, not really what you’d think of when you think “call girl”.

They spend a few hours together and they hit it off - A deeper connection than either of them expect.

It’s nice - in a way.

Their night is interrupted by Eric, he drags Zed out for a night on the town and he makes merry.

But Zed and Zoe are destined to meet again - sooner than expected - in the bank where Zoe works her day job.

Problem is - Zed's bank job?

The one he’s helping Eric to rob?

Yep. That’s the one.

They catch sight of each other - And that’s when it all starts to unravel.

Once the robbery starts, the film locks into that one location

And it either clicks for you at this point, or it doesn’t.

This isn’t a slick, carefully planned out clever heist - Hell - There’s barely even a plan.

It’s loud, and it’s chaotic and feels like it could all collapse at any point.

It feels intentional - BUT - Intention only gets you so far - And in the chaos that breaks out?

Well… Nothing actually stands out.

Zed isn’t a hero - He’s not that likable, really - Which is kind of the point.

Eric - Well - He’s not exactly the kind of person you’d like as a friend, or put a lot of trust in either.

The two are supposed to be childhood friends from back in the day, but - They’ve obviously grown apart despite their best efforts to stay on the same page.

Those differences are what gives the whole thing some friction.

The two are supposed to be friends, but - There is obviously a difference of opinion between the two - which gives us some friction.

But, there isn’t anything to latch on to, really.

Zed ends up drifting through one bad decision after another while he tries to keep Zoe, and the rest of the public safe.

Often reacting to Eric - and the rest of the crew he trusts less than Eric - who are all seemingly making ever worse decisions.

Zoe?

Well she’s still just drifting through the film - it’s like she’s wandered in from different movie altogether at times - A romance, perhaps.

Julie Delpy plays her with this quiet detachment - like she's watching Zed make a mess of his life and already knows how it ends.

It never quite pays off.

But it's interesting

Killing Zoe is a bit of a blunt title - and it makes it sound like the film is building toward one very specific outcome.

And in a way, it is.

But it’s not just about whether Zoe lives or dies.

It’s about what happens when someone like her ends up in the middle of all this

someone quieter, someone a bit more human - someone, normal

dropped into a world that’s loud, messy and completely out of control.

And once everything starts to unravel, it’s hard to shake the feeling that nothing like that is getting out of it clean.

It’s a very dirty film - and it’s not apologising for it.

None of these characters are cool professionals - They’re erratic and reckless.

Drugs, violence - and decisions fuelled by both - are the order of the day

There’s no real sense that anyone has any control over any of whats happening inside the bank.

Sometimes that kind of story telling works, sometimes it doesn’t

There’s a fine line between being unpredictable - and just making it up as you go along.

Killing Zoe?

Well - It crosses that line a few times.

But - What I will say about it - is - it commits to this through all of it.

To the tone, grime and that ugly old world that it builds.

There’s no glamour and - no sense that it’s ever going to end well at all.

And when you realise this, if you’re still watching - you lean into it.

Not because it’s perfect.

Not because it’s even trying.

But because it feels like there is no filter.

I mean - It really is chaos a lot of the time.

And that chaos is what makes it feel uneven - And it’s hard to ignore this.

Scenes drag out as the dialogue gets clunky and it all seems to be trying too hard.

What’s supposed to be shocking ends up feeling more like provocation.

Especially now - It hasn’t aged that well.

Killing Zoe isn’t a film that became cult because it’s great.

I’m one of the ones that like the film, but it’s still not really something I’d recommend - I know it’s hard to watch.

And, if I hadn’t watched it back in the day - I’m not really sure what I’d make of it now.

No - It became cult, because it’s distinct.

And that’s the reason I’ll slip on the film to this day.

It's different.

And that’s why I like it.

Sure - It’s rough - Less refined, and honestly - Feels like it could, or should fall apart at any moment

There’s a lot of loose, unpolished camera work - much of it hand held

Large chunks of the dialogue are in French

When I’ve been using the word “chaos” - I have meant it

Trying to follow what’s actually happening during the heist?

It’s not for the faint of heart at times

Killing Zoe really shouldn’t work

In some ways, it’s kind of a miracle it even exists at all.

I mentioned Reservoir Dogs earlier - And it’s not that I was trying to compare the two.

But Killing Zoe probably wouldn’t exist at all if it wasn’t for that film.

When locations were being scouted for Reservoir Dogs - they found a bank that would make an excellent location for filming.

It wasn’t any use for Reservoir Dogs, but - Not wanting to waste what they’d found - phone calls were made to see if anyone else could make use of it..

When Roger Avary got that call - He didn’t actually have a script, but had an idea brewing in his head.

The first draft for Killing Zoe would appear two weeks later.

And the bank they originally found for Reservoir Dogs would be the one that got robbed in Killing Zoe.

Which means - As much as you’re supposed to believe the film is filmed in France, it was actually filmed in LA.

Weirdly - It’s not even a bank anymore - It’s a block of apartments.

Quentin Tarantino's name isn’t just one being bandied around for credibility either, he had a lot to do with the film - Even going so far as to watch the dailies with the crew.

So - In my head - They’re kind of linked that way.

For those wanting more - There is a sequel, of sorts - Lucky Day made back in 2019.

You won’t recognise it as a sequel, but that’s how it started.

Zed is now Red - And - Well - Yeah - Other changes - But - It’s something at least

Killing Zoe is one of those films that I wish I could say was a hidden masterpiece, a gem or even a misunderstood classic.

But - It’s not.

It is, however, memorable.

And unique enough that it sticks around..

It’s not that everyone likes Killing Zoe - Far from it

But those of us that do?

Well - we really, really do like it.

Anyways

I’ve been Paul and Killing Zoe is Cult, Actually.

If you’ve liked his video then do me a favour and drop me a like.

Subscribe as well if you want while you’re there - Or don’t - I’m not going anywhere.

And, hopefully - I shall see you on the next Rewind.

Thanks for watching.