One in the Chamber (2012): One Bullet. One Chance. Zero Mercy.
Fast-paced, ruthless, and packed with pulse-pounding action, One in the Chamber delivers everything you want from a no-nonsense assassin thriller. Set against the shadowy backstreets of Prague, this film thrusts viewers into a dangerous game of cat and mouse between two elite killers whose paths cross with explosive consequences.
Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as Ray Carver, a seasoned contract killer with a sharp eye and an even sharper trigger finger. When a hit goes sideways, Ray finds himself targeted by a relentless rival — Aleksandr Dragomir, played by the ever-intense Dolph Lundgren — a flamboyant and deadly assassin with his own code of honor. What begins as a deadly rivalry quickly escalates into an uneasy alliance as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to consume them both.
Director William Kaufman keeps the momentum relentless, balancing tightly choreographed fight sequences with moments of tense, silent standoffs. The Prague setting is atmospheric, drenched in neon rain and crumbling architecture that enhances the noir tone.
Gooding Jr. brings unexpected depth to his role, portraying Carver not just as a killer, but as a man grappling with betrayal and survival. Lundgren’s charismatic villainy adds layers of complexity, turning the cat-and-mouse game into a high-stakes chess match where every bullet counts.
The film’s title refers to the ominous “one in the chamber” — a metaphor for survival where hesitation can mean death. The climactic showdown, involving a single bullet and shattered loyalties, is both brutal and poetic.
Rating: 8.2/10 – Stylish, sharp, and thrilling. One in the Chamber is a tightly wound action thriller that blends classic assassin tropes with fresh energy, proving that sometimes, less truly is more.
