Year: 2017
Runtime: 95 min
Language: English
Directors: Walter Hill, Roger Julian Cross
A seasoned hitman’s life takes a shocking turn when he’s betrayed and subjected to a bizarre experiment. He awakens to discover his identity has been altered—he is now a woman trapped in a man's body. Forced to confront the mysterious surgeon behind this gruesome transformation, he must unravel a deadly conspiracy and fight for his survival in a dangerous game of deception and revenge.
Get a spoiler-free look at The Assignment (2017) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the shadowed underbelly of a city that never truly sleeps, a seasoned hitman moves through a world of quiet contracts and unspoken codes, his reputation as a relentless professional preceding him. The routine of his solitary existence is suddenly fractured, not by a new target, but by a disorienting rupture of identity that forces him to confront the very core of who he has been. The atmosphere is steeped in a muted, gritty noir that feels simultaneously claustrophobic and endless, as the streets echo with whispers of unseen forces at work.
The catalyst of his upheaval arrives in the form of a brilliant yet unhinged surgeon, Dr. Rachel Jane, whose reputation for pushing the boundaries of medical ethics has already slipped into the realm of rumor. Her involvement introduces a surreal, almost clinical horror—a transformation that blurs the line between flesh and self, leaving the hitman to grapple with a body that no longer matches his psyche. The tone shifts to a tense, psychological thriller, where every glance in a sterile corridor carries the weight of hidden agendas and the lingering scent of antiseptic mingles with the grime of the streets outside.
Amidst this turmoil, the hitman finds himself evaluated by Dr. Ralph Galen, a composed figure whose calm demeanor and probing questions hint at a larger, labyrinthine conspiracy. Their interactions are charged with a quiet intensity, suggesting that the surgeon’s motives are part of a web that reaches far beyond any single individual. The juxtaposition of clinical assessment against the hitman’s street‑hardened instincts creates a compelling clash of worlds—one governed by rules and the other by raw survival.
As the narrative unfolds, the hitman must navigate a precarious game of deception, where trust is scarce and every revelation threatens to upend his sense of reality. The film sustains a relentless, breath‑holding mood, inviting the audience to linger on the unsettling possibility that identity itself can be weaponized, and that the path to reclaiming autonomy may be as dangerous as the life he once led.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:53
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Vengeance is a brutal, soul-crushing path with no happy endings.If you liked the grim and unforgiving revenge story in The Assignment, explore more movies where vengeance comes at a terrible price. This section features similar thrillers and crime dramas with heavy emotional weight, brutal consequences, and bleak outcomes for characters driven by retribution.
Narratives in this thread follow a character who suffers a profound betrayal or trauma, setting them on a single-minded quest for revenge. The plot is driven by their descent into violence and moral decay, often stripping away their humanity. The journey is linear and punishing, typically ending with the protagonist achieving their goal but at the cost of their own soul, leaving them in a state of hollow victory or utter ruin.
Movies are grouped here because they share a central theme of revenge executed with unflinching brutality and a pessimistic worldview. They prioritize a dark tone, high intensity, and heavy emotional impact, creating a cohesive experience of grim, often hopeless, justice.
Stories where the greatest threat is the loss of one's own self.For viewers who appreciated the psychological dread and body horror of The Assignment, this section collects movies that delve into disturbing themes of identity crisis and psychological manipulation. Find similar films with a dark tone, unsettling moods, and narratives centered on the horrifying violation of the self.
The narrative pattern involves a character whose fundamental identity is attacked, manipulated, or destroyed by an external force. This could be through scientific experimentation, gaslighting, or surreal circumstances. The plot follows their desperate struggle to reclaim their sense of self or uncover the truth, often while descending into paranoia and madness. The structure is often methodical, building a sense of inescapable psychological oppression.
These films are connected by their focus on the horror of losing one's identity. They share a dark, unsettling tone and generate tension not just from external threats, but from the internal disintegration of the protagonist. The experience is defined by psychological unease and themes of manipulation and bodily autonomy.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Assignment in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Assignment is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of The Assignment, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Assignment with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Assignment. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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