Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, Keith Jardine, has always marched to his own beat—inside the Octagon and now behind the camera. With Kill Me Again, his feature directorial debut, “The Dean of Mean” steps into a whole new arena and delivers a bloody, stylish and surprisingly emotional thriller that’s much sharper than you might expect from a first-time filmmaker.
And former face-puncher.
The hook is immediately compelling: Charlie (Brendan Fehr), a serial killer nicknamed “The Midnight
Mangler,” finds himself trapped in a time loop, forced to relive one gruesome night at a dusty diner over and over. It’s a horror riff on Groundhog Day, but instead of a hapless everyman, we’re watching a predator slowly unravel.
Fehr is the anchor here, and he more than holds his own. He balances menace with moments of vulnerability, giving the audience just enough humanity to keep viewers engaged as his character cycles through brutality, confusion, and — eventually — reflection. The supporting cast all rise to the occasion, too, with Majandra Delfino and Tait Fletcher (a former The Ultimate Fighter contestant-turned Hollywood stuntman) adding grit and heart to the increasingly tense diner standoffs.
Visually, Kill Me Again looks far bigger than its budget suggests. Jardine leans into neon-drenched noir vibes and tight, claustrophobic framing that make the diner feel like its own character. The practical effects are a highlight: the blood and gore have a tangible weight that CGI rarely captures, adding to the old-school horror feel.
What sets this movie apart is its emotional punch. Beneath the carnage is a story about change, fate and whether a man defined by violence can break his cycle (literally and figuratively). Jardine doesn’t just make a splatter flick; on the contrary, he sneaks in something that lingers after the credits roll.
And for fight fans, the cameos are a blast: Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Michelle Waterson and Maurice Greene all pop up, adding a wink to Jardine’s MMA roots. It feels less like stunt casting and more like a natural extension of the fight-family vibe he brings to the project.
Sure, the film drags slightly in the opening act and the rules of the loop aren’t always crystal clear, but once it finds its rhythm, Kill Me Again goes the full five rounds and scores a finish.
Final Verdict: I give the movie a solid 7 out of 10. Kill Me Again is a violent, thoughtful, and unexpectedly touching debut that shows Jardine is only getting started.
Kill Me Again is available on demand on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home (Vudu), Google Play, and YouTube
