Why the first pairing of two legendary actors became a critical failure
In short: The 2013 thriller Killing Season marked the first time Robert De Niro and John Travolta shared the screen. Despite this high-profile casting, the film was panned by critics for its writing and execution. Behind the scenes, the project underwent significant changes, evolving from a 1970s-era script into a modern-day Appalachian cat-and-mouse game.
Originally titled Shrapnel, the project had a long road to production. Early in its development, it was considered as a potential follow-up for John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, who had previously starred together in Face/Off, with John McTiernan eyed as the director. The script, written by Evan Daugherty, gained traction after winning the 2008 Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition. By the time filming began on January 16, 2012, the setting had shifted to modern-day Appalachia, with production taking place in northern Georgia and Bulgaria.
The narrative centers on a personal vendetta between Colonel Benjamin Ford, an American NATO veteran living as a recluse in Tennessee, and Emil Kovač, a former Scorpions soldier from Serbia. During the Bosnian War, American troops witnessed atrocities and targeted Serb soldiers, including Kovač. Years later, Kovač tracks Ford down under the guise of a tourist, leading to a violent confrontation in the wilderness. The film explores their shared trauma, eventually concluding with a peaceful compromise after the two men confront their past actions.
Despite the star power of De Niro and Travolta, the film struggled to find an audience or critical acclaim. Upon its limited release on July 12, 2013, it received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics like Peter Sobczynski labeled it inept and boring, while others criticized Travolta’s Serbian accent and the film’s tonal inconsistency. With a 10% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 29 out of 100 on Metacritic, the project is widely remembered as a misfire that failed to capitalize on its ambitious premise or its lead actors' reputations.
The production sought to evoke a specific atmosphere, with director Mark Steven Johnson choosing locations in Rabun County to replicate the mood of the film Deliverance. While the film features original music by Ben Sollee, these stylistic choices could not overcome the script's perceived flaws. Ultimately, the pairing of two cinema icons remains the film's primary historical footnote, serving as a reminder that even the most promising collaborations can falter when the underlying narrative fails to resonate.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Killing Season (film)
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