Headshot

"They should have killed him."

2016 1h 58m ID

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 512

ActionThrillerDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A young man washes ashore, his memory gone - but his past comes back to haunt him after he is nursed back to health and his killing ability is needed when he takes on a powerful drug lord.

“They should have killed him.”

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Cast

Iko Uwais
Ishmael / Abdi
Chelsea Islan
Ailin
Sunny Pang
Lee
Julie Estelle
Rika
Very Tri Yulisman
Besi
David Hendrawan
Tejo
Zack Lee
Tano
Yayu Unru
Romli

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Timo Tjahjanto
Writers: Timo Tjahjanto, Timo Tjahjanto
Languages: Indonesian, English
Countries: Indonesia, Singapore

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Indonesian, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Indonesia, Singapore.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, shot by Yunus Pasolang. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Fajar Yuskemal. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Arifin Cu'unk shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Iko Uwais and Chelsea Islan and Sunny Pang carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They should have killed him.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Timo Tjahjanto directs. Yunus Pasolang behind the camera. Fajar Yuskemal scores. Arifin Cu'unk cuts. Produced in Indonesia, Singapore. Dialogue in Indonesian, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 10 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Indonesian, English.
3International production across 2 countries: Indonesia, Singapore.
4Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, shot by Yunus Pasolang. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Fajar Yuskemal. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Arifin Cu'unk shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Iko Uwais and Chelsea Islan and Sunny Pang carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "They should have killed him.".
9IMDB entry: tt5147214 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 14 themes, including "martial arts", "amnesia", "post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)", "resistance".

The technical file

Cinematography: Yunus Pasolang
Original score: Fajar Yuskemal
Editing: Arifin Cu'unk
Production design: Iqbal Marjono
Costume design: Aldie Harra
Makeup / hair: Kumalasari Tanara
Sound: Fajar Yuskemal
Stunt coordinator: Very Tri Yulisman
Runtime: 118 min · 1h 58m
Status: Released
Original language: ID
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Headshot (2016)

Also by

Timo Tjahjanto

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2018-02-04
★ 5/10
No matter what, the bad past always hunts you down! Like everybody, I was anticipating 'The Raid 3', instead I got this one. Iko Uwais is not just a rising star, he is making Indonesian films internationally recognised. But seems as fast he's rising, as fast he's sinking. The reason is heavily relied on martial arts. In real life, he himself an artist too. But taking into the account like from Tony Jaa, and Hong Kong, Chinese film industries. That's a one generation thing. To keep the industry on the float in the long term, it takes good stories and performances, alongside good production. 'The Raid' duology was good, but not lucky anymore. Basically, this is the same pattern with different characters and situations compared to those two titles. The stunt fans might enjoy it, but what terribly lacked in this film was the a good story. The majority of the film goers, including film critics believe in that. Hence it did not deliver as expected. By the way, this is a generation of CGI film like 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. Yet some kids from the 90s still love to see a pure martial art films. It is an action packed film. A gangster theme. The day when a notorious gangster leader named Lee escapes the prison, a young man was found unconscious on the beach, then he was treated by an aspiring young doctor. Lee finds out about this amnesiac man and sends his finest men to retrieve him. But nothing goes as planned. The confrontation between them slowly restores his lost memory. Defeating all the fighters, he's set for the final standoff against Lee which will bring an end to the narration. ❝You saved me before. I need you to save me one more time.❞ The production was good, though the performances were ordinary. Because all the focus were the action sequences. At least I expected decent dialogues. It was a weird romance platform, a sub-genre. Romance can blossom anywhere, anytime, but weakly developed to believe it the least. Not the best martial art film too. There were some twists in the narration, but none were surprising enough. The film would have achieved a better result if it had done well in the stunt parts. I'm sure there will be some people who would like it or liked it. I usually like martial art films, but not this one, not my cup of tea. Sometimes the opening does not matter if the rest of the tale recovers well. Very clichéd initiation, but it did not get better. Especially the conclusion was a big let down. The entire film was leaned on Iko's role. Also the character Lee was too much hyped. In between them, the rest of the cast was discarded. Overall, I don't think they have missed an opportunity in here, because I felt nothing were designed so well to be a decent film at any level. From familiarity to the predictability, the storytelling never had the upper hand to get better. Some people think it is worth watching at least once, but according to me not. All I would say is it's your call. 4.5/10
Gimly2019-02-19
★ 6/10
Not a bad movie, but coming straight off of The Raid and The Night Comes For Us did make Headshot a little disappointing. Iko Uwais movies are still a safe bet in my book though. Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.