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Sci-fi film

Kill Switch (2017): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch

Kill Switch (2017) movie poster

Kill Switch is a 2017 sci-fi film directed by Tim Smit, starring Dan Stevens, Charity Wakefield and Bérénice Marlohe. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and was made on a reported $1 million budget. Critics gave it 9% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10. Stream it on MovieSphere+ and Plex, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
9%
Echo Score
37
Metascore
31
Kill Switch (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Tim Smit
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original language
English
Budget
$1M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Kill Switch About?

The premise of Kill Switch without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

As reality begins to collapse, a failed experiment jeopardizes the existence of humankind. Pilot and physicist Will Porter (Dan Stevens) finds himself racing against time, pursued by drones and soldiers, through a world falling apart. His mission is to transport the Redivider box to a distant tower, a last-ditch effort to save his family and prevent the planet’s destruction in a perilous struggle for survival.

Kill Switch Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • alternative energy
  • disaster
  • parallel world
  • experiment gone wrong
  • kill switch
  • end of the world
  • suicide mission
  • character's point of view camera shot
  • race against time
  • science goes awry
  • helicopter crash
  • being shot at
+38 more
  • parallel universe
  • alternate world
  • car rollover
  • overturning car
  • car theft
  • electronic music score
  • directorial debut
  • subjective camera
  • armored car
  • first person
  • virtual reality
  • surrealism
  • murder
  • death
  • violence
  • kidnapping
  • hostage
  • held at gunpoint
  • rescue
  • escape
  • deception
  • betrayal
  • double cross
  • blood
  • blood splatter
  • blood on camera lens
  • fistfight
  • fight
  • brawl
  • punched in the face
  • knocked unconscious
  • shootout
  • gunfight
  • battle
  • combat
  • urban warfare
  • guerilla warfare
  • battlefield
Where to watch

Where to Watch Kill Switch

Stream it on MovieSphere+ and Plex, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Kill Switch Cast

Dan Stevens leads the cast, with Charity Wakefield and Bérénice Marlohe. Directed by Tim Smit; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Kill Switch Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Kill Switch 9% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 37/100, strongest in art & craft (50) and weakest in story & flow (25).

37 /100

Kill Switch Echo Score Breakdown

Kill Switch struggles to deliver a coherent narrative despite ambitions in craft and concept. Critics and viewers frequently note its reliance on a first-person shooter gimmick overshadowing substantive storytelling, resulting in confusion over plot direction and character motivation. While some praise emerges for individual performances and technical flair, these elements fail to coalesce into a satisfying whole. The film’s uneven execution and limited emotional resonance leave it with minimal lasting impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits striking digital effects and inventive framing but lacks cohesive direction. Visual sequences are occasionally engaging yet feel like a showcase for technology rather than a unified aesthetic. Inconsistent editing undermines momentum. Overall, the technical ambition is clear but falls short of establishing a coherent visual identity.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are uneven and hindered by limited screen presence. The first-person perspective reduces interaction and obscures expressive nuance, leaving protagonists feeling distant. Though some actors deliver committed work, character motivations rarely resonate. As a result, the film struggles to foster genuine emotional connections with its leads.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative is frequently described as disjointed and illogical. Plot developments emerge without sufficient context, resulting in confusion over the film’s central premise. Pacing oscillates between aimless exposition and abrupt transitions. The limited engagement and lack of coherent structure undermine the potential of its science-fiction concept.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    With respect to sensory experience, audio and visual elements demonstrate occasional ingenuity but suffer from uneven integration. The sound design receives sporadic praise for atmosphere, yet inconsistent mixing occasionally detracts from immersion. Special effects exhibit both ambition and rough execution. Consequently, the film’s sensory palette feels fragmented rather than immersive.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    When considering rewatch factor, the film’s fragmented narrative and minimal emotional payoff diminish the desire for revisiting. Initial intrigue in the concept and unique visuals is overshadowed by confusion and lack of depth. Although technical flourishes may prompt occasional revisits, the overall lack of clarity and cohesion limits lasting appeal.

Plot

Kill Switch Plot Summary

What happens in Kill Switch from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the near future, a physicist and former NASA pilot Will Porter is recruited by Alterplex, a power company that has built a colossal tower designed to harvest unlimited quantum energy. The project is presented as a leap forward for humanity, promising clean, nearly limitless power, but the science behind it uncovers a deeper consequence: the tower is draining energy from a mirror world called The Echo, a place that initially seemed lifeless but is revealed to harbor its own thriving ecosystem and a parallel energy infrastructure of its own.

Full summary

The whole story of Kill Switch, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Kill Switch Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Kill Switch Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers
  • Teaser Kill Switch Teaser Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Kill Switch?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the lead character Will Porter in Kill Switch?

Cars

Cars in Kill Switch

15 cars on screen, including the 1996 Ford Galaxy MkI and the Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse W460.

All 15 cars
  • 1996 Ford Galaxy MkI in Kill Switch 1996 Ford Galaxy MkI Important role
  • Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse W460 in Kill Switch Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse W460 Important role
  • 2011 Ram 1500 in Kill Switch 2011 Ram 1500 Important role
  • BMW 318tds Touring E36 in Kill Switch BMW 318tds Touring E36 Minor role

Seen Kill Switch?

FAQ

Kill Switch FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Kill Switch, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Kill Switch?

Kill Switch runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Kill Switch released?

Kill Switch was released on June 16, 2017.

Who directed Kill Switch?

Kill Switch was directed by Tim Smit.

More films by Tim Smit

Who is in the cast of Kill Switch?

Kill Switch stars Dan Stevens, Charity Wakefield and Bérénice Marlohe, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch Kill Switch?

In the US, Kill Switch is streaming on MovieSphere+, Plex and Tubi TV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

What was the budget of Kill Switch?

Kill Switch had a reported budget of $1 million.

How is Kill Switch rated?

Kill Switch has 4.7/10 on IMDb, 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, 31 on Metacritic and 48% on TMDB.

Does Kill Switch have a post-credit scene?

No. Kill Switch has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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