What Is I Hired a Contract Killer About?
The premise of I Hired a Contract Killer in 270 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
Henri Boulanger is a middle‑aged Frenchman whose life in London has been reduced to a monotonous routine at the city’s waterworks. When a wave of privatisation leaves him among the first to be dismissed, the sudden loss of purpose amplifies a deepening sense of isolation. The cramped flat, the quiet streets, and the relentless hum of a metropolis that feels increasingly indifferent create a stark, almost claustrophobic backdrop. Despair drives him to contemplate ending his own life, but each attempt falls short, leaving him teetering on the edge of resignation and a desperate need for an exit.
In a moment of reckless surrender, Henri turns to a newspaper story about contract killers and, after pawning a watch, arranges a meeting at the Honolulu Bar. The decision to hire a professional assassin is presented with a dry, understated irony that underscores the film’s darkly comic tone. While he awaits the promised strike, a chance encounter with Margaret, a flower‑selling woman he meets outside a pub, sparks an unexpected connection. Their brief conversation blossoms into an instant, fragile intimacy that begins to tilt Henri’s worldview, offering a glimpse of warmth amid the prevailing gloom.
The story unfolds as a meditation on loneliness, bureaucratic indifference, and the thin line between resignation and renewed hope. London’s grey corridors and bustling markets serve as both a setting and a character, reflecting Henri’s internal conflict. As the possibility of love surfaces, the film balances melancholy with subtle humor, inviting the audience to wonder whether a new relationship can truly alter a man’s predetermined path, or if the darkness he invited will simply linger in the shadows.
What Happens in I Hired a Contract Killer?
The complete story of I Hired a Contract Killer, from the first scene to the last, in 667 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Henri Boulanger Jean-Pierre Léaud is a middle-aged French man living a drab, solitary life in London. After fifteen years with the city’s waterworks, he learns that the government’s privatization drive has left foreigners to be fired first, and he is laid off effective immediately. With no job, no real friends, and a growing sense of isolation, Henri’s world narrows to a quiet, stubborn endurance.
Desperation nudges him toward a reckless plan: he attempts to end his life, first by hanging and then by poisoning via gas, but both attempts fail. When a newspaper story about contract killers catches his eye, Henri pawns a watch and makes his way to the Honolulu Bar to meet these supposed professionals. The killers agree to take the job within two weeks and warn that he can change his mind if he wants to back out; Henri insists he won’t.
While waiting for the killers, Henri posts a note on his door saying he’s gone to the pub opposite and ends up meeting Margaret Margi Clarke, a woman selling flowers. Their conversation sparks an instant connection, and they plan to meet again. Henri returns home to find the assassin has been there; he escapes and resolves to visit Margaret.
At Margaret’s, Henri confesses that he has fallen for her, a realization that makes him reconsider dying. Margaret suggests that he cancel the job by going to the Honolulu Bar, and she offers to go to Henri’s flat to retrieve his belongings, thinking she’s safe because the killer doesn’t know her. Yet the Honolulu Bar is demolished, and Margaret never enters Henri’s flat. The killer tracks her journey back to her own building, but he does not follow her into the lift, instead returning to his own life, where a violent coughing fit hints at illness.
Back at Margaret’s, Henri runs out of cigarettes and heads to the corner shop, while the killer forces his way into Margaret’s flat. Margaret tries to deny any connection to Henri, but the killer threatens her and compels her to wait for Henri’s return. When footsteps approach, he plans to act, but Margaret knocks him unconscious. The couple flee and rent a room at a hotel, where Margaret half-heartedly suggests he go to the police. They share a fraught moment of intimacy, and the pair seems to be building a fragile new bond.
Meanwhile, the killer, newly informed by a doctor that he has a form of cancer with only a month or two left, decides that time is still enough to complete his mission. Back at the hotel, Henri wakes to find Margaret gone and later follows the two associates of the killer to a jeweller’s. The thieves rob the place, and a struggle for the gun ends with the jeweller’s death. The criminals fling the gun into Henri’s hands and flee; he discards it afterward.
Margaret, meanwhile, goes to a pub to sell flowers and unexpectedly encounters the killer again. She pleads for him to call off the job, but he insists that everyone must die eventually. A letter from Henri arrives to Margaret, bringing her to tears, and she heads to a French hamburger shack where she learns that Henri has found work there. The couple plans to leave the country and arrange tickets, meeting at the station.
Police eventually capture the jewel thieves, clearing Henri of suspicion, and he prepares to depart with Margaret. But at the burger place, the killer bursts back into their lives, determined to finish the job. Henri escapes through the back, while the killer overpowers Henri’s new employer and confronts him. The killer acknowledges his impending death, then turns the gun on himself and shoots. Henri leaves as a taxi nearly sideswipes him—an untimely near-miss; the taxi is carrying Margaret.
Some time later, Henri’s employer—who had given him work at the hamburger shack—is shown again, standing by a restaurant window, smoking and cleaning his glasses, a quiet aftermath to a life touched by danger, longing, and unresolved love.
I Hired a Contract Killer Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Fired after 15 years” to “Ending: life goes on for Henri's world”. 13 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Fired after 15 years
Henri Boulanger learns he has been laid off from his London waterworks job, effective immediately, as privatization sweeps the industry and foreigners are the first to go. The sudden loss detonates his sense of stability and leaves him isolated in a city that suddenly feels hostile. He must face unemployment without a support network.
When:immediately after notice Where:London waterworks office
- 2
Suicide attempts
Despair drives Henri to consider ending his life, a plan he tries to execute twice but fails. He attempts hanging and then gassing himself in the oven, both dramatic misfires that underline his hopelessness. The near-tragedy marks a turning point, forcing him to seek something else to hold on to.
When:soon after dismissal Where:Henri's flat, London
- 3
Hires contract killers
While reading the newspaper, Henri spots a story about contract killers and decides to hire them. He pawns a watch to raise funds and goes to the Honolulu Bar to meet the killers, who agree to take the job within two weeks. They warn him to contact them if he changes his mind, though he insists he won't.
When:within two weeks after dismissal Where:Honolulu Bar, London
- 4
Meet-cute with Margaret
On the spur of the moment, Henri leaves a note on his door saying he’s gone to the pub opposite. At the pub, he meets Margaret, a flowerseller, and they strike up an instant connection. They plan to meet again, giving Henri a sliver of hope amid the bleakness.
When:soon after the note Where:Pub opposite Henri's flat
- 5
Killer breaks in; Henri escapes
The assassin manages to break into Henri's flat, prompting Henri to escape. He resolves to visit Margaret afterwards, shifting his focus from dying to a possible new life. The break-in confirms the immediate danger that still pursues him.
When:same day as the break-in Where:Henri's flat
- 6
Confession of love and plan to cancel
At Margaret's, Henri confesses that he has fallen in love, changing his mind about the planned murder-for-hire. Margaret urges him to cancel the order and goes to Henri's flat to collect his belongings, thinking she is safe because the killer doesn't know her. The exchange deepens their bond while the stalker remains at large.
When:shortly after the break-in Where:Margaret's flat
- 7
Honolulu Bar demolished; killer tails Margaret
Henri learns the Honolulu Bar has been demolished and the killer begins tailing Margaret on her way back to her own flat. He does not follow her into the lift, and instead returns to his own life, coughing up blood as a sign of his illness. The killer’s presence still haunts them both.
When:soon after cancellation attempt Where:Honolulu Bar vicinity; Margaret's route home
- 8
Confrontation at Margaret's flat; hotel escape
The killer forces his way into Margaret's flat, threatening her to wait for Henri's return. Margaret resists and manages to knock him unconscious, allowing Henri and Margaret to flee and rent a hotel room. They share a rare, intimate moment, confirming they want to press on together despite the danger.
When:immediately after the assault Where:Margaret's flat; hotel room
- 9
Killer cancer diagnosis; still aims to kill
The killer—now outwardly recovered—is told by a doctor that he has a form of cancer with one to two months to live, but he still plans to kill Henri. The diagnosis intensifies the killer's resolve, turning their cat-and-mouse game into a race against time. The threat remains very real.
When:shortly after the hotel escape Where:Hospital/doctor’s office
- 10
Henri framed in a jeweller's murder
Henri wakes in the hotel and, after a sequence of events, follows the killer's associates to a jeweller's. A struggle erupts and a shot kills the jeweller; the thieves stuff the gun into Henri's hands and flee, forcing him to dispose of the weapon to avoid suspicion. This event drags Henri deeper into danger and frames him in the eyes of the law.
When:the day after the hotel escape Where:Jeweller's shop; streets near the hotel
Show the other 3 events of I Hired a Contract Killer Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Police close in on jewel thieves
Police arrest the two jewel thieves while pawning the jewellery, and Henri is declared innocent. The relief is tempered by the killer's continued pursuit and the pending confrontation. Henri now faces a direct threat that could end his life at any moment.
When:soon after the jeweller's murder Where:Police station
- 12
Final confrontation and taxi near-miss
During the final confrontation, the killer bursts into the burger place to finish the job while Henri tries to evacuate with his employer. The killer shoots himself rather than die at Henri's hands, ending the immediate danger. Henri exits into the street and is narrowly missed by a taxi driven by Margaret.
When:immediately after the confrontation Where:Burger place; surrounding street
- 13
Ending: life goes on for Henri's world
Some time later, Henri's employer—the restaurant owner who has kept him employed—stands by a window in the restaurant, smoking and cleaning his glasses. The closing image hints at a fragile equilibrium returning to life, with Henri and Margaret's future left uncertain. The film ends on a quiet, unresolved note about what comes next for them.
When:some time later Where:Restaurant
Who Are the Main Characters in I Hired a Contract Killer?
5 characters, among them The Killer (Kenneth Colley), Henri Boulanger (Jean-Pierre Léaud) and Margaret (Margi Clarke): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
The Killer (Kenneth Colley)
Played by Kenneth Colley
A cold, professional hitman who pursues Henri with calm, methodical detachment. His own terminal illness threads a fatalistic rationale through his actions, making violence feel like a reluctant escape rather than a thrill. He embodies the film's chilling irony: even murder may be touched by the fragility of life.
- 🔪 Violent
- 🧭 Detached
- 💀 Fatalistic
- HB
Henri Boulanger (Jean-Pierre Léaud)
Played by Jean-Pierre Léaud
A middle-aged French expatriate in London who loses his job and weighs suicide against a chance for a new life. His evolution from despair to tentative hope is sparked by a relationship with Margaret and by the unpredictable consequences of crime.
- 🧭 Desperate
- 🕯️ Reflective
- 💬 Reserved
- M(
Margaret (Margi Clarke)
Played by Margi Clarke
A flower seller who becomes a lifeline for Henri. Her practicality and warmth push him toward living rather than giving up, even as she faces danger from the contract killers. She navigates loyalty, love, and survival in a tough urban landscape.
- 🌸 Tender
- 💖 Empowering
- 🗝️ Resolute
- TJ
The Jeweller
Played by Peter Graves
A jeweller who is robbed by two thieves; during the struggle, the gun goes off and the jeweller is killed. The criminals then plant the gun on Henri, complicating his innocence and triggering the investigation that follows.
- 🔫 Tense
- 🛡️ Defensive
- 🗡️ Confrontational
- KB
Killer's Boss
Played by Michael O'Hagan
The mob-like figure who orders the hit and oversees the operation, representing the economic violence that triggers the plot. His authority ties the personal tragedy to a larger criminal network.
- 💼 Authority
- 🧱 Impersonal
- 🗺️ Systemic
Where and When Is I Hired a Contract Killer Set?
I Hired a Contract Killer is set in London, Honolulu Bar, hotel, jeweller shop and pub opposite Henri's flat (Late 1980s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 1980s
The events take place in contemporary London during a period of privatization and unemployment. The government’s plan to privatize the waterworks and dismiss foreigners first anchors the social climate and the characters’ precarious lives. The narrative uses this setting to explore how economic pressures drive drastic choices and chance encounters.
Where
London, Honolulu Bar, hotel, jeweller shop, pub opposite Henri's flat
The story unfolds across urban London, focusing on drab interiors and crowded streets. Key locations include the Honolulu Bar where the contract is arranged, a run-down hotel where Henri and the killer cross paths, and a jeweller's shop central to the climax. The city itself feels claustrophobic, emphasizing anonymity and the sense that ordinary lives are pulled into deadly schemes.
- 🏙️ Urban setting
- 🕰️ Contemporary city
- 🗺️ Diverse neighborhoods
What Are the Themes of I Hired a Contract Killer?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Isolation, Love and Mortality.
-
01
Isolation
Henri's drab, solitary existence after losing his job sets the mood of the film. His chance encounter with Margaret offers a fragile glimmer of human connection. The killer's lonely, detached worldview adds to the sense that the city itself is a maze for solitary minds.
-
02
Love
Margaret's warmth disrupts Henri's plan to give up on life and rekindles his will to live. The romance develops amid danger, deadpan humor, and the pair's shared vulnerability. Love here stands as a counterpoint to the violence surrounding them.
-
03
Mortality
The killer is revealed to have a terminal cancer diagnosis, framing his violence as a race against death. The imminent end casts every decision in a new light, making even ordinary days feel charged with danger. Henri's own brushes with danger underscore life’s fragility.
-
04
Moral Ambiguity
The film centers on a contract killing and the banality of the criminals behind it, highlighting how ordinary people can be drawn into violent acts. The killer's justifications and Henri's reluctant involvement blur the lines between victim and perpetrator. The narrative questions whether fate or free will determines who dies.
What Kind of Film Is I Hired a Contract Killer?
Melancholic in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A melancholic and quietly anxious character study about profound loneliness and the chance for redemption, set against a drab urban backdrop with moments of tender romance punctuated by grim circumstance.
- lonely
- melancholic
- quiet
- tender
- anxious
- reflective
- suicidal ideation
- loneliness
- found love
- contract killing
Content notes: suicide attempt, contract to have oneself murdered.
Quiz
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