With its vivid visual style, generous amounts of violence, and a focus on the nocturnal, one can understand why viewers often compare "The Bag Man" to some films by Tarantino. But it falls short by comparison.
Most of the action takes place at a motel, where the titular bag man, Jack (John Cusack) has been directed to wait until his employer sends someone for the bag he has been instructed to guard (while never looking inside). The motel has a colorful variety of denizens, including a blue-haired, leggy female who seems interested in Jack's affairs. But so do the others. Including the motel manager, Ned, who Crispin Glover plays with his usual quirkiness.
Jack, who is understandably paranoid, is dragged down a rabbit hole of cascading events. As things go off the rails, he clings to his moral code. He might be a hitman, but he is as reliable as they come. He is no John Wick though; things get messier and messier throughout the night.
This is one of those films designed to keep you wondering what will happen from one moment to the next, with the viewer never permitted an understanding that exceeds that of the protagonist. Because of that, and the level of gratuitous violence, "The Bag Man" has a limited audience. The acting is believable, despite the film's over-the-top, stylized universe.
