You know that feeling when you're scrolling through a streaming service and see a face that makes you do a double-take? That’s basically the entire experience of watching the 2017 thriller First Kill. On paper, it looks like your standard VOD action flick. But then you see Hayden Christensen and Bruce Willis sharing the screen, and suddenly it’s a lot more interesting.
The First Kill movie cast is a weirdly fascinating mix of "Star Wars" royalty, an aging action legend, and some truly solid character actors who deserved more screen time. Honestly, the movie itself is a bit of a slow burn, but the performances are what keep it from being just another bargain-bin DVD.
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The Star Power: Hayden Christensen as Will Beeman
Most of us know Hayden Christensen as the man who brought Anakin Skywalker to life. In First Kill, he trades the lightsaber for a hunting rifle. He plays Will Beeman, a high-flying Wall Street broker who’s basically a disaster at being a "present" dad.
Christensen has this specific intensity that works well here. He isn’t playing a superhero. He’s playing a guy who is clearly out of his depth. When his son Danny gets bullied at school, Will decides the best solution is a trip to his hometown of Granville, Ohio, to teach the kid how to hunt.
It’s a bit of a "tough love" trope, but Christensen makes it feel grounded. You can tell he’s trying to bridge a gap with his kid, even if his methods—taking a 11-year-old into the woods to shoot things—are a bit questionable.
Bruce Willis: The Local Law and the Legend
Then there’s Bruce Willis. He plays Police Chief Marvin Howell. If you’ve followed Willis’s career in the late 2010s, you know he did a lot of these smaller-budget thrillers. In First Kill, he’s the world-weary lawman who happens to be an old family friend of the Beemans.
There is a specific kind of gravity Willis brings to a role like this. He doesn't have to do much. He just stands there with that famous smirk, looking like he’s seen everything twice. But as the plot thickens—involving a bank heist gone wrong and a kidnapped kid—his character becomes way more complicated than the "friendly local cop" he initially appears to be.
The Heart of the Movie: Ty Shelton and Gethin Anthony
While the big names get the top billing, the real chemistry happens between the kid and the kidnapper. Ty Shelton plays Danny Beeman. For a child actor, he’s surprisingly convincing. He isn't just a "victim" in the story; he actually has an arc.
The most interesting casting choice, in my opinion, is Gethin Anthony as Levi Barrett. You might recognize Anthony as Renly Baratheon from Game of Thrones. Here, he’s the bank robber who takes Danny hostage.
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It’s a weird dynamic. Levi isn’t a cartoon villain. He’s a guy caught in a bad situation who ends up forming this strange, protective bond with Danny. Honestly, the scenes where they talk about life and bullying are some of the best parts of the film. It flips the whole "bad guy" narrative on its head.
A Look at the Supporting Cast
The rest of the First Kill movie cast is rounded out by actors who pull their weight to make this small-town thriller feel lived-in.
- Megan Leonard (Laura Beeman): She plays Will’s wife, a doctor who is understandably terrified when her husband and son disappear into the woods. She brings a much-needed emotional anchor to the film.
- William DeMeo (Richie Stechel): He plays a uniformed officer with a mean streak. He’s one of the primary antagonists and does a great job of being someone you genuinely want to see get what's coming to him.
- Shea Buckner (Charlie Stechel): Another member of the local law enforcement who isn't exactly what he seems.
- Magi Avila (Adele Fanchon): She has a pivotal role that ties into Levi's motivations, adding another layer to the heist backstory.
Why This Specific Cast Worked (and Where It Didn't)
Look, I'm gonna be real. First Kill isn't going to win an Oscar. The plot—a father forced to help a criminal to save his son—is something we’ve seen a dozen times. But the First Kill movie cast makes it watchable.
There’s a nuance to Christensen’s performance that you don't always get in these types of movies. He looks genuinely stressed. And Willis, even in a supporting role, adds a layer of "big movie" feel to a production that could have easily felt cheap.
The limitation, of course, is the script. Sometimes the dialogue feels a bit stiff, and the "anti-bullying" message is delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. But watching these actors navigate those moments is part of the charm.
What Most People Miss About First Kill
A lot of people dismiss this movie as "another Bruce Willis VOD flick." But if you look closer, it’s actually a pretty interesting study on fatherhood and the cycles of violence.
Chief Howell (Willis) mentions he knew Will's father. The movie hints at a long, messy history in this small town. It’s not just about a bank robbery; it’s about the secrets people keep to protect their status in a place where everyone knows your name.
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Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning to check out First Kill or revisit it, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the background: The movie was filmed in Granville and Cincinnati, Ohio. The locations are real and add a certain grit that you don't get from a soundstage.
- Focus on Levi and Danny: Their bond is the soul of the movie. It’s a classic "Stockholm Syndrome" setup, but played with more empathy than usual.
- Check out the director's other work: Steven C. Miller is known for these fast-paced, high-stakes thrillers. He knows how to work with big stars on a tight schedule.
- Listen to the score: The music by Ryan Franks and Scott Nickoley does a lot of heavy lifting to keep the tension high even during the slower "talking" scenes.
Basically, First Kill is a solid Friday night movie. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but with a cast like this, it doesn't really have to. It’s a story about desperate people doing desperate things, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you want to watch.
Next Step: If you enjoyed seeing Hayden Christensen in this more rugged role, you should check out his performance in Shattered Glass (2003) or the 2018 rom-com Little Italy for a completely different vibe. For more of Gethin Anthony, his portrayal of Charles Manson in the series Aquarius is a must-watch.