Assassins’ have been portrayed in movies with different personality types. There have been those that would execute their mark with a cynical smile, and there are others that their entrance in a scene creates a very believable ambiance that the viewer will feel oozing from the screen. It’s a bit unusual to find an assassin making an effort to elicit information from the victim as to why somebody wants them assassinated.

The movie Ava shows an assassin mixed up in a little bit of unusual personal drama uncommon to people that ply her trade. This 2020 action thriller stars Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Collin Farrell, and Common amongst others. The movie was written by Mathew Newton and directed by Tate Taylor; popular from the work he did on The Help.

The movie kicks off with a James bond style intro where a significant action scene happens before the movie officially starts. In this case, Ava’s (Chastain) profession as an assassin is revealed. The fact that she is curious to find out from the target the reason they are a target seems to create a new persona from the traditional assassin the viewer is accustomed to. However, Newton is able to weave this into the plot to appear to be the reason why she begins to experience problems with her employers.

One thing that the viewer can expect is a combination of up-tick action with fight sequences that are fairly well executed with gun battles that convincingly display Ava’s competency as an assassin. Newton is able to infuse personal family drama, also uncommon to the usual assassin character that is normally motivated by the thrill, money, or revenge; as in the case of Beatrix Kiddo.

Major parts of Ava’s past are captured in the early parts of the movie, and the viewer is quickly introduced to her tumultuous past. She had been an alcoholic in her past and had caught her dad cheating and threatened him that she was going to tell her mum. Dad instead creates a story that claims that Ava is blackmailing him for money so the message is dead on arrival when it gets to mom; because mom is aware of Ava’s then alcoholic state; this drives her into the military where she acquires the skills to become a proficient executioner and then makes an effort to reconnect with her family eight years later; these are not spoilers as they are not dramatized in the story but used as a justification to build Ava’s character.

The film captures multiple themes; from high-powered assassinations, domestic drama, and even ushers the viewer into the dark world of underground gambling that sees Ava making efforts to save her sisters’ fiancé from gambling debt. Despite the fusion of multiple themes, the actors are able to put on their best show. John Malkovich maintains his cool matter-of-factly attitude as shown in his straight-to-the-point tone, and Jessica Chastain is convincing in her fight sequences that are unaided with any visual effects. The upbeat music used to enhance the action scenes were in tune and will surely be received by the raw action movie-loving viewer.

Despite the rotten tomatoes rating, I see this movie as very watchable and considering that it is a work of fiction. If you are in to fight choreography, fast-moving gun shooting sequences, dysfunctional family drama; this movie is for you.