Synopsis
In an undisclosed location in rural Nova Scotia, retired blacksmiths John and Nancy Little live a peaceful life, tending to their beautiful vegetable garden and crafting ethereal musical sculptures out of scrap metal. Occasionally, their special skills are put to use by the local police in an effort to protect the daily lives of all Canadians. Steeped in the atmospherics of a taut spy thriller, Gun Killers portrays two ordinary citizens as gentle national heroes.
A word from Tënk
There is a certain playful aura that emanates from Jason Young's film, shot in the depths of springtime Nova Scotia. This isn't to say that the subject or theme is light-hearted (quite the contrary), but rather it is in the mise-en-scène, which heavily borrows from the codes of the thriller genre, that several playful elements emerge. With the heavy use of ominous music and shadows that envelop the setting, Young relies primarily on his protagonists, retired blacksmiths, to infuse the best elements of suspense.
Despite their friendly demeanor, John and Nancy Smith are portrayed as mysterious, two-faced individuals living a double life, with a mission of utmost importance that they set out to accomplish as soon as night falls. When the headlights of an unidentified vehicle appear on their property and a man hands them a suitcase with a secretive content, it is hard not to smile seeing the sparkles in their eyes, as they clearly take a mischievous delight in playing the role of vigilantes.
Jason Todd
Artistic Director
Tënk
