In KO, currently available on Netflix, Ciryl Gane, a leading professional MMA fighter, takes on a greater role in acting. Standing at 6’5”, he previously made a brief appearance in Den of Thieves 2 and now plays Bastien, a fictional top MMA fighter. Co-starring Alice Belaïdi, Foued Nabba, and Samuel Jouy (from Ganglands), KO follows the journey of Bastien, a disgraced fighter, and Belaïdi’s determined cop as they take on a ruthless drug gang that has made life difficult for the French National Police. But does the story build enough tension when it’s named after a knockout and centers around an MMA fighter? Let’s join Bastien in a Mediterranean salt mine, where his self-imposed exile from the octagon is already in effect.
KO: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: During a championship MMA match, Bastien (Gane) accidentally kills his opponent. Two years later, while breaking salt rocks in penance, he is confronted by Emma (Anne Azoulay), the widow of the man he killed. Emma’s teenage son Léo (Maleaume Paquin) has gone missing in Marseille, and after receiving unsatisfactory help from the police, she tells Bastien that he must find Léo to seek absolution.
While we possess more information about Léo’s whereabouts than Emma, the search is fraught with danger. In Marseille, a violent gang called the Manchours is consolidating control over drug territory, employing brutal tactics. Their leader, Abdel (Nabba), is also looking for Léo. As the authorities shy away from Manchour territory, Captain Kenza Alaoui (Belaïdi) stands her ground, driven by both professional duty and personal history.
Facing opposition from her superiors, Kenza teams up with Bastien to confront the Manchours, engaging in confrontations with gang members and nightclub bouncers. Despite the premise, the film could benefit from additional thrilling fight scenes. Gane excels in portraying a quiet giant; however, the narrative is often diverted by the violence perpetrated by the Manchours, pulling focus from the main action.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of? In comparison, Polish films like Furioza and Bartkowiak are more effective at blending gang violence, police response, and dynamic fight sequences. Netflix also features Sixty Minutes, where another MMA fighter protects a child in peril.
Our Take: Although KO has its moments, particularly the humorous aftermath where gang members endure comedic injuries, the film lacks sufficient fight sequences. The potential for explosive confrontations remains underutilized, as Gane’s character is often sidelined in favor of exploring the gang’s sinister activities. The film’s tension would benefit from improving the fights that pit Bastien against the various antagonists, instead of merely focusing on the Manchours’ cruelty.
Our Call: While MMA enthusiasts may appreciate Ciryl Gane’s transition into action films, KO fails to deliver the excitement it promises. Therefore, this film is best categorized as a SKIP IT.
