So, Scott Adkins plays a hitman marked by loss and driven by pure rage. It is one of Adkins’ most layered roles to date. While he is often known for his powerful, physical characters, here he shows a different side: tormented, intense, and deeply emotional. His fighting style is less acrobatic, but raw, realistic, and full of weight. What makes this film extra special is who he takes this journey with: not only does Jean- Claude Van Damme co-star as the cold killer Brazil — a collaboration that happened multiple times before and after — but also Van Damme’s son Kristopher Van Varenberg (as Interpol agent Schell) and daughter Bianca Van Varenberg (as Flint’s comatose lover Anna) appear. A true family project for Van Damme, but amidst all the Van Damme-style action, Adkins holds his ground very well. His role carries the emotional core of the film, his presence is dominant, and his performance might be the strongest of them all.

Van Damme delivers a restrained performance, portraying Brazil as a man who has seen it all. Cold, analytical, and almost mechanical, he carries out his deadly work with precision. Brazil lives in silence and discipline—until he is confronted with Flint, a man burning with emotion. The dynamic between Van Damme and Adkins is powerful. Their characters start off as rivals, each with their own mission, but gradually grow into allies out of necessity and mutual respect. What connects them isn’t friendship, but shared trauma and a deep-rooted battle against inner emptiness. The chemistry between the actors works precisely because they are so different: Van Damme is stoic and controlled, while Adkins is emotionally charged and explosive.

The film opens with a powerful, cynical quote that perfectly reflects the central theme of Assassination Games: “There is no better antidote to one enemy than a second enemy.” It sets the tone for a story in which two deadly men, each driven by their own motives, are forced to work together — not as friends, but as weapons against a greater enemy. In a world consumed by violence, this quote reminds us that sometimes, evil can only be fought with an even darker force.

Assassination Games brings together two assassins who have more in common than they initially realize. Vincent Brazil (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a cold-blooded loner who carries out his hits without emotion. Roland Flint (Scott Adkins) is a former elite hitman who laid down his weapons after his wife Anna (played by Bianca Van Varenberg) was beaten into a coma by the ruthless criminal Polo Yakur. When Yakur resurfaces, a relentless hunt begins — Brazil is in it for the money, Flint for revenge. Reluctantly, the two men become allies in a corrupt web of criminals and government agencies.

Director Ernie Barbarash gives the film a sober, dark tone that fits the tragic nature of both main characters. The action scenes are tight, short, and effective — especially Adkins’ hand-to-hand combat, which is top-tier without ever becoming over the top. The color palette is bleak, the atmosphere suffocating, and the pacing deliberate. The film is set mostly in Eastern European streets, factories, and anonymous apartments, which adds to the sense of hopelessness. Assassination Games explores themes like moral ambiguity, the trauma of violence, and the impermanence of justice. There is no hero in this film — only survivors who have lost something or someone. That’s what makes it so compelling: this isn’t a film about winning, but about losing with dignity.

Assassination Games isn’t a typical shoot-’em-up, but a stylized character study wrapped in action. Jean-Claude Van Damme proves he has grown as an actor, and Scott Adkins is given room to shine — both physically and emotionally. The fact that Adkins shares the screen with the entire Van Damme family makes the film truly unique.