Film

The Hitman’s Dalliance

A hardened criminal and a tormented hitman, locked in a deadly dance, confront their demons and the duality of human nature in a gritty L.A underworld.

The trailer.

Watch The Hitman’s Dalliance trailer Watch on YouTube

Project credits

Written and directed by: Kudzai King
Art direction & title typography: Kudzai King
Associate producer: Kudzai King
Producer: Quinn Cavin
Production companies: Curious Minds Entertainment and Echobend Pictures
Cinematographer: Dima Shorin
Production designer: Dani Taouil
Editor: Adam Deniston
Composer: Paul Ameller
Graphics / poster: @tinotenda_mtana

Synopsis

In the grimy underbelly of Los Angeles, two souls locked in a deadly dance grapple with their own demons. Anthony, a hardened criminal desperate to protect his family, finds himself bound before Gabin, an enigmatic hitman haunted by the duality of life and death. As Gabin toys with his captive, weaving tales of past kills and existential musings, the lines between hunter and hunted blur.

Their barbed dialogue exposes the raw duality of human nature: the capacity for monstrous acts hidden beneath the veneer of normalcy, the desperate clinging to life even amidst the bleakest circumstances. As the tension escalates, a shocking revelation throws their fragile dance into disarray, forcing both men to confront the true cost of their choices.

In the end, they discover that in the grand narrative of existence, even the most hardened souls yearn for redemption, leaving a lingering question: can forgiveness exist in the face of unspeakable deeds?

Award of Excellence — Global Shorts, March 2025.

Inside the film.

Kudzai developed the visual, narrative and distribution strategy, secured investor financing and led a 50-person crew. The work also included AI-assisted creative development, marketing assets and distribution planning.

Close film frame of the captive with blood across his face. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

The captive seated with an arm restrained in the warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A suited hitman standing in the dim warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A wide film frame with a chair and two figures in the warehouse. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Black-and-white low-angle frame of a suited man against warehouse windows. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Black-and-white frame of a suited man holding a handgun. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A close film frame of the captive under dark cinematic light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A film frame with the seated captive in the foreground and the hitman behind. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Black-and-white frame of the hitman driving a convertible. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Black-and-white close frame of the hitman behind a steering wheel. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Black-and-white low-angle frame of the hitman in the convertible. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

On the set.

Cast and crew working under large film lights in a warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Close portrait of an actor with stage blood during production. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

An actor on the warehouse set with dark cinematic lighting. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

An actor having hair and makeup adjusted between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A crew silhouette facing the actors beneath film lights. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Actors and crew beneath a large diffusion panel and round light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Crew preparing a camera setup beneath overhead diffusion. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

The camera crew, actors and a round practical light on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A crew member bending toward a seated actor between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Cast and crew reviewing a scene beside the lighting setup. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A crew member giving direction beside a seated actor. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A wide warehouse view of the film crew preparing the set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Cast and crew spread across the large warehouse location. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Crew preparing a scene beneath diffusion and a round film light. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Two performers rehearsing beside a chair on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A wide colour view through the warehouse toward the working crew. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

A standing crew member and seated actor lit on the warehouse set. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Hair and makeup adjustment for a seated actor between takes. The Hitman’s Dalliance.

Crew, a cinema camera rig and overhead diffusion around a convertible on The Hitman’s Dalliance set.

The posters.

The Hitman's Dalliance poster with written and directed by Kudzai King billing.

The Hitman's Dalliance poster with written and directed by Kudzai King billing.

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