Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Attempting to recover from a recent family trauma by escaping into the woods for a peaceful hiking trip, an ex-lawman and his young son stumble across a dangerous contract killer.
The Contract is a fairly routine thriller that brings together Morgan Freeman and John Cusack but fails to capitalize on its premise. The plot is derivative—a by-the-numbers cat-and-mouse chase through the wilderness with predictable beats and little tension. Freeman and Cusack deliver competent performances that elevate the material somewhat, but neither is given much to work with. The cinematography is serviceable but unremarkable, offering little visual distinction despite the Pacific Northwest forest setting. The concept of a hitman held captive by civilians is not novel here, and the film executes it without any distinctive flair or original angle. The ending resolves things tidily but without impact or surprise, leaving little impression.