The Mechanic
Seen it?1972 | 99 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (45% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved The Bourne Supremacy, start here.
- The mood
- Tense, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 39 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1972: an older pace and style.
Arthur Bishop is a veteran hit man who, owing to his penchant for making his targets' deaths seem like accidents, thinks himself an artist. It's made him very rich, but as he hits middle age, he's so depressed and lonely that he takes on one of his victim's sons, Steve McKenna, as his apprentice. Arthur puts him through a rigorous training period and brings him on several hits. As Steven improves, Arthur worries that he'll discover who killed his father.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
45% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 99K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Bourne Supremacy
Saturday SpecialAnother hitman action film, and a Saturday Special.
Killers
Monday Morning MaybeAnother hitman action film. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
Killshot Monday Morning MaybeAnother hitman crime thriller. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
RED
Sunday Safe BetAnother hitman action film, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Man with the Golden Gun Weeknight WatchAnother hitman action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Michael Winner
- Charles BronsonArthur Bishop
- Jan-Michael VincentSteve McKenna
- Keenan WynnHarry McKenna
- Jill IrelandThe Girl
- Linda RidgewayLouise, Steve McKenna's Girlfriend
- Frank De KovaThe Man
- James DavidsonIntern
- Lindsay CrosbyPoliceman
- Steve CoryMessenger
- Tak KubotaYamoto