At the 15th Sofia International Film festival (SIFF), ESSENTIAL KILLING (Poland, 2010) screened to an international audience.

In 'Essential Killing' (2010) actor Vincent Gallo plays Mohammed, a Taliban from Afghanistan on the run from American soldiers through the mountains of Poland after slaughtering three American soldiers to bits. While I would not say this film is bad nor good, I would definitely say that it is very worth the time as it is certainly a film not soon to be forgotten. Who would of thought Gallo could pull off such a feat! He is compelling in his role as Taliban on the run and while intimidating, his character also begs sympathy in a weird and twisted way. Despite his fierce bursts of 'essential killing' while on the run and his ravenous hunger, which even drives him to breast feed from a large woman on the roadside, one cannot help but root for this mysterious enemy while feeling disgust for him simultaneously. While my friend and I were the only ones clapping at the end of the film (in a full theater), it is unarguably a riveting, shocking film, action packed and nothing like you have ever seen before...Two thumbs up for Jerzy Skolimowski's film, 'Essential Killing' and Vincent Gallo's gratuitous and stellar
performance!

review written by, Vanessa McMahon