Watch Killing Zoe
- R
- 1994
- 1 hr 36 min
-
6.4 (21,666)
Killing Zoe is a 1993 crime thriller film directed by Roger Avary, who co-wrote the screenplay with Quentin Tarantino. The film stars Eric Stoltz as Zed, an American safecracker who travels to Paris to pull off a heist with his old friend Eric (Jean-Hugues Anglade), who is now a drug addict. Julie Delpy also stars as Zoe, a call girl that Zed meets and becomes attracted to.
The film begins with Zed arriving in Paris and meeting up with Eric at a bar. The two catch up and Eric introduces him to his drug dealer, who offers to sell them heroin. Despite Zed's objections, Eric buys the drugs and convinces him to take them with him. The next day, they meet up with their team of French thieves, who are all wearing clown masks. The heist takes place in a bank and quickly goes awry when the security guard sets off the alarm. The team takes the employees hostage and attempts to break into the vault. The thieves are unsuccessful until Zed steps in and cracks the safe.
After the heist, Zed goes back to his hotel and encounters Zoe in the elevator. They strike up a conversation and agree to meet up later. When they do, they spend the night together and Zoe reveals that she is a call girl. The next morning, Zed receives a call from Eric, who is in a paranoid state and begs Zed to come to his apartment. When Zed arrives, he finds out that Eric has invited their drug dealer to the apartment and they are planning to shoot up. Zed attempts to leave but is stopped by the drug dealer who reveals that he knows about the heist and demands Zed's cut of the money. In the ensuing chaos, one of the thieves is killed and Zed is severely beaten.
Despite his injuries, Zed goes to the rendezvous point to meet the rest of the team. They are surprised to see him and are even more surprised when he pulls a gun on them to demand his share of the money. The team reveals that Eric has taken it all and is now in hiding. Zed goes to find Eric and discovers that he has been holed up in his apartment with Zoe, who is now his girlfriend. Zed makes a last ditch effort to convince Eric to give him the money and leave with Zoe before the police close in. Eric refuses and the film ends with a violent and explosive showdown.
Killing Zoe is a classic example of the 1990s indie film movement, with a stylish and ultra-violent sensibility that would become synonymous with Tarantino's films. The film is a gritty portrayal of the criminal underworld, with a heavy emphasis on drugs, violence, and sex. Stoltz delivers a strong performance as the protagonist, who is torn between his loyalty to his friend and his desire to have a new life with Zoe. Delpy also shines in her role as Zoe, bringing a level of depth and complexity to the character that is often missing from female roles in action films.
One of the most notable aspects of the film is the cinematography, which uses an intense color palette and a tight, claustrophobic camera style to create a sense of unease and tension. The soundtrack, which features music from French punk bands, adds to the film's gritty and edgy atmosphere.
Overall, Killing Zoe is a cult classic that remains a must-watch for fans of the crime thriller genre. Its twisted plot, intense violence, and stylish presentation make it a prime example of the indie film movement of the 1990s.
Killing Zoe is a 1994 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 49.