He Drank. He Smoked

About This Movie

He Drank. He Smoked is quite an intriguing piece from 2014. It dives into the underbelly of retired hitmen who find themselves in a cemetery, which gives it this eerie, somber tone. The pacing is, let’s say, deliberate; it pulls you in with its atmospheric tension, almost like you're waiting for the next chess move in a game where stakes are life and death. The practical effects are refreshing, very raw and gritty, adding to the overall film-noir aesthetic. There's a certain bleakness to the performances, especially from the leads, who embody these worn-down characters with a sense of melancholy. And that ending? Completely unexpected, shaking the whole narrative up. Definitely a film that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.

Russian film-noir styleUnexpected narrative twistsAtmospheric tension throughout