Message from the King

Jacob King, a quiet, intensely capable man traveling from Cape Town, lands in Los Angeles with a singular mission: avenge his sister's murder. He slips into the city’s shadowy mix of criminals and powerful insiders, learning how a killer’s circle works by listening, watching, and striking when distance between worlds narrows. What begins as a personal vendetta shifts into a complex game of leverage as he navigates a tangled web of street hustlers, corrupt cops, and wealthy patrons. The pursuit unfolds across dimly lit streets and high-end corridors, where every conversation could be a trap and every ally might betray him.

Directed by Fabrice Du Welz from a script by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell, the film stars Chadwick Boseman in a restrained, hard-edged thriller with Luke Evans, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, and Natalie Martinez in supporting roles. It premiered in 2017 as a compact, tense exploitation of the city’s underbelly.

Critics described the movie as a spare, mood-driven thriller that leans into atmosphere over spectacle. Boseman carries the film with a controlled, imposing presence while the screenplay threads themes of vengeance, immigration, and moral compromise through a world where danger lurks behind polished façades.

Within genre circles, the film is noted for Boseman’s unusual lead in a hard-edged Los Angeles setting and for its lean, nocturnal mood. While not a mainstream hit, it has found appreciation among fans of noir criminal thrillers who favor quiet intensity over loud action.