Honestly, when this started, it looked like a TV film, had hammy acting, a B-movie script and the shots were so cliché, I wondered if I was watching a spoof.
5 minutes in and I already wanted to turn it off. After 10, I was wondering how the Hell this "crap" got made!

Since I had been recommended this by a mate whose opinion I trust, I pressed pause, made a cup of hot chocolate and tried to continue... As it turned out, this film is incredibly tongue-in-cheek, it knows what it is and neither apologises nor pretends to be anything else, instead, gleefully cheeses its way forward, since all the "play it straight" versions of this kind of story have been told over and over already!

Having recognised this, to my surprise, after 30 minutes, I was really into this film!
Where other tales like this rely on the action or pretty photography to make them excel, The Assassin shies away from all that as it purposely underplays itself, sticking to its corny ethos, making itself a thoroughly enjoyable feature without much fuss.

As I type this review, the film over less than 30 minutes ago, I can 100% say that, not only did I really like it, but I'd definitely watch a sequel!
Seriously: give this one a chance and you might just be as surprised as I was.