Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A beautiful felon, sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a policeman, is given a second chance – as a secret political assassin controlled by the government.
Nikita is a stylish and distinctive Luc Besson thriller that stood apart from contemporaries with its female-led assassin narrative blending romance, identity, and cold-blooded action in a uniquely French register. The concept of a feral criminal reshaped into a government killing machine was handled with genuine flair and emotional investment, giving the film a singular voice that spawned countless imitations. The acting is competent and Anne Parillaud is compelling in the lead, though the supporting cast is uneven. Cinematography is slick and atmospheric without being especially groundbreaking. The plot has propulsive momentum but leans on some melodramatic contrivances. The ending is melancholy and effective, if not fully resolved. Novelty earns the top mark because Nikita genuinely defined its own subgenre and felt like nothing else at the time of release.