Icarus: The Killing Machine (2010)

Icarus (stylized known on-screen as Dolph Lundgren is The Killing Machine) is a 2010 Canadian action film starring and directed by Dolph Lundgren in his last directorial effort until 2021. The film co-stars David Lewis, Samantha Ferris, and Bo Svenson. The film centers around Edward Genn, a former Soviet hitman known as “Icarus”. After the collapse of the Soviet Empire, he moved to the United States to begin a new life. But after many years, his past has finally caught up with him. On August 8, 2008, Lundgren signed a contract with Insight Film Studios to direct and star in Icarus. Produced on a $6 million budget, and filming began in October 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Filming was expected to last “about” five weeks, but reportedly wrapped after 18 days.

At the 2008 Cannes Film Market, CineTel Films acquired the international distribution rights to the film. The worldwide premiere took place on Canadian television. This was followed by a limited theatrical release in a number of countries, including: the United States (on September 10, 2010), the United Arab Emirates (on October 28), Bahrain (on November 25), Oman (on December 2), and Kuwait (on December 16). The film received mixed reviews; praise was aimed at the action scenes and violence. On August 16, 2010, the film was distributed on Blu-ray and DVD in the United Kingdom by Anchor Bay Films, followed by the United States on October 19.

Plot:

There were those who called him Icarus. Everyone else knew him as a divorced father working for an investment company. But they did not know his other side his dark side. Because Icarus (Dolph Lundgren) was at his best when he was killing people. For years, he had worked as a sleeper agent in America but when the Soviet Empire collapsed, he found himself in a foreign country with no one to trust. Determined to break from his dark past, he started over with a new identity, but was only able to escape his past for so long.

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When a sudden mishap in Hong Kong blows Icarus’ identity, past and present collide and the assassin realizes he is now the target. The people that want him dead will stop at nothing to get to him. And that means going after what he cares about most his wife and daughter. Fighting for his life, Icarus is forced to face the demons of his past to protect the loved ones in his present. He must fight to save the only thing he has ever done right in his life. He needs to uncover who is after him and protect his family, before it is too late.

Filming:

Principal photography began in October, 2008. Shot entirely in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, filming was expected to last “about” five weeks, but reportedly wrapped after 18 days. According to Ferris, Lundgren had a “strong concept” and “vision” about how he wanted the film to be.

Marketing:

“First look” images from the film set emerged in early July, 2009. This coincided with the release of a teaser poster and teaser trailer later the same month. The official trailer was released a year later on July 23, 2010. In an effort to promote the film’s DVD release, “two behind the scenes featurettes” were published beforehand. In them, Lundgren discusses his role as an actor and director, how he prepares for filming action scenes, and how he trains prior to performing any stunts.