The Kill Point is an American television series that follows a group of U.S. Marines recently returned from serving in Iraq as they come together to pull off a major bank heist of a Three Rivers Bank branch in Pittsburgh. The series, produced by Mandeville Films and Lionsgate Television, was the first drama for the Spike TV network. The working title for the project was The Kill Pitt.
Most of the filming took place in Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh while most of the sound stage filming took place in a warehouse in Lawrenceville, a section of Pittsburgh.
A first-person shooter game based on the show was made available online from Kuma Reality Games.
Contents
Synopsis
Jake "Mr. Wolf" Mendez, an ex-Sergeant in the Marine Corps and his men, all former members of the "10-13", a military platoon that participated in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, enter a bank and rob it. Outside, on their way to the getaway car, they are shot at by vigilante, law enforcement, and private security personnel. Forced to retreat back into the bank when the getaway driver is wounded and their vehicle disabled, they take the bank customers hostage. Hostage negotiator Captain Horst Cali attempts to end the stand off while elements of the "10-13" outside the bank and the father of one of the hostages work to help Mr. Wolf and his team escape.
Cast
Main
Donnie Wahlberg as Captain Horst Cali, an experienced police negotiator
John Leguizamo as Sergeant Jake Mendez / Mr. Wolf, the former leader of a Marine Corps platoon, now leading the platoon members in the robbery
Michael Hyatt as Lieutenant Connie Reubens, the commander of the SWAT team
Frank Grillo as Albert Roman / Mr. Pig, a flirtatious member of the platoon and Rabbit's brother
Jeremy Davidson as Corporal Henry Roman / Mr. Rabbit, a violent and unstable platoon member and Pig's brother
J.D. Williams as Marshall O'Brien Jr. / Mr. Cat, the combat medic of the platoon
Leo Fitzpatrick as Michael / Mr. Mouse, a platoon member afflicted with posttraumatic stress disorder, which becomes exacerbated by a gunshot wound he suffers
Geoffrey Cantor as Abe Sheldon, the manager of Three Rivers Bank
Christine Evangelista as Ashley Beck, the daughter of business mogul Alan Beck
Adam Cantor as Rocko, an electrician for Three Rivers Bank and former convict
Wayne Kasserman as Tonray, the technician of the police negotiation team
Michael McGlone as Deputy Chief Nolan Abrami, Cali's superior
Jennifer Ferrin as Chloe, a widowed young woman who develops Stockholm syndrome
Recurring
Tobin Bell as Alan Beck, a wealthy real estate mogul and the father of Ashley
Michael K. Williams as Q, the SWAT team's sniper
Bingo O'Malley as Bernard, an elderly homosexual bank patron
Ethan Rosenfeld as Robby Sabian, Teddy's teenage son and computer expert
Ryan Sands as Leroy Barnes, a defense attorney
Kate Rogal as Marykim, a friend of Ashley's
Brandi Engel as Cass Conferth, Ashley's friend
Karen Baum as Karen, a bank teller
Stefanie E. Frame as Renee, a bank employee in a sexual relationship with Tony
Brandon Stacy Williams as Augie, a member of the SWAT breach team and friend of Hawk
Jeff Hochendoner as Big Stan, a former member of Wolf's platoon
Joshua Elijah Reese as Derzius, one of the former members of Wolf's platoon
Nick Koesters as Leon, a former member of Wolf's platoon who lost his arm in combat
Patrick Jordan as Johnny, Q's spotter
Guest
Susan Misner as Lorna Ash, an FBI agent assigned to replace Cali as negotiator
Patrica Cray as Addie, a teller at Three Rivers Bank
Karen Carbone as Kerry Southwell, an FBI agent present at the bank during the robbery
Adam Kroloff as Henry, a bank security guard
John Hawkinson as Zing, a SWAT breach team member
Laurel Brooke Johnson as Lucy Cali, Cali's pregnant wife
Patrick Sebes as Luke Mendez, Wolf's heroin-addicted son
Crew
The series was executive produced by James DeMonaco, David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Steve Shill. DeMonaco has dealt with hostage situations before in his script for The Negotiator. Directors include cable regular Steve Shill who the network hoped would help to establish their reputation for drama.
Critical response
Critics have characterised the show as familiar but watchable. Comparisons have been drawn to 1970s bank heist movies, Tarantino, The Nine and 24. Comparisons to The Nine have been favourable on the grounds that The Kill Point always has an ending in sight. Mr. Wolf's speeches to the crowd has been called "an Attica moment" and compared to Dog Day Afternoon.
The characters have been described as cliché by reviewers. However, the script has drawn praise for its subtlety and entertainment value. One reviewer felt that the running time allowed the clichéd characters to be developed in more interesting directions.
The casting of the show has drawn particular praise. Reviewers have noted the cast members who have also worked on The Wire including Michael K. Williams, JD Williams, Leo Fitzpatrick and Michael Hyatt. The chemistry of the opposing roles of negotiator and hostage taker also drew praise for John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg as well as a surprising performance by Jeremy Davidson an unknown whose portrayal of a disturbed war veteran was very under-rated. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised local actor Bingo O'Malley.
Webisodes
Five webisodes featuring Steve Cirbus as Deke and Joshua Elijah Reese as Derzius were made available via Spike TV's website. They cover the activities of Deke and Derzius of 10/13 platoon outside the bank as they work to aid Mendez and company. The webisodes were written and directed by Josh Trank.
Cancellation
Despite healthy ratings and attaining the target demographic of male viewers, Spike decided not to renew the series for a second season.
Home media
The series was released on DVD in the United Kingdom in 2008.