New Movies: Ballerina Assassin (2025) by Michael Su: A Low-Budget Tale of Betrayal and Vengeance
- dailyentertainment95
- May 31
- 6 min read
"Ballerina Assassin" is a 2025 action-adventure film directed by Michael Su and produced by The Asylum. It stars Preet Kaur as an elite female assassin who, after a devastating betrayal leads to the wipeout of her entire spy network, embarks on a relentless mission for revenge. Tasked with dismantling the syndicate responsible by hunting down their top killers, she quickly becomes the ultimate target herself, forced to outsmart and outgun those who want her dead before they can erase her for good. The film is known as a "mockbuster," designed to capitalize on the simultaneous release of the larger-budget John Wick spin-off, Ballerina.
Link to watch: https://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Assassin-Michael/dp/B0F6BQGHKX/ (US)
Detailed Summary
"Ballerina Assassin," released on May 30, 2025 (United States), is an action-thriller directed by Michael Su. Su is a prolific director for The Asylum, a production and distribution company famous for its low-budget, direct-to-video "mockbusters" – films that intentionally mimic the titles and concepts of major studio blockbusters to attract audiences. In this case, "Ballerina Assassin" is a clear play on Lionsgate's Ballerina (the John Wick spin-off).
The plot centers around Maria Herrera (played by Preet Kaur), an elite female assassin. Her world is turned upside down when her entire spy network is wiped out due to a devastating betrayal. Left with nothing, she is consumed by a fierce desire for revenge. Her mission becomes clear: dismantle the powerful syndicate responsible for the betrayal.
As Maria begins to hunt down the syndicate's top killers one by one, she quickly realizes that she has become their primary target. The film then becomes a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game where Maria must constantly outwit and outgun those who are relentlessly pursuing her, determined to eliminate her before she can expose or destroy their operations. The synopsis also mentions an element where she "must take ballet classes as part of an important mission," implying a deceptive cover or a specialized skill.
The film's runtime is reported inconsistently, ranging from 70 minutes (1 hr 10 min) to 90 minutes (1 hr 30 min), but generally indicates a concise, action-focused pacing typical of Asylum productions. Michael Su not only directs but also serves as the cinematographer, a common practice in low-budget filmmaking to maintain a consistent visual style and control over production. The screenplay is by Jacob David Smith.
Plot Summary
Betrayal and Annihilation: An elite female assassin, Maria Herrera, witnesses her entire spy network destroyed due to a devastating betrayal.
Mission of Revenge: Fueled by vengeance, Maria sets out on a relentless mission to dismantle the syndicate responsible for the betrayal.
Hunting the Killers: She begins systematically tracking down and eliminating the syndicate's top assassins.
Becoming the Target: As she progresses, Maria herself becomes the primary target of the powerful organization.
Survival and Showdown: She must use all her skills to evade capture and fight her way through waves of enemies to uncover the truth and achieve her revenge before she is eliminated.
(Potential) Ballet Element: An initial mission involves taking ballet classes, suggesting a cover or specialized training that might be intertwined with her assassin skills.
Director's Vision
Michael Su, as a veteran director for The Asylum, likely approaches "Ballerina Assassin" with a vision focused on delivering maximal action and a compelling, if familiar, revenge narrative within the constraints of a low budget. His vision would include:
Action-Driven Narrative: Prioritizing frequent and intense action sequences to keep the audience engaged, a hallmark of Asylum's genre films.
Strong Female Lead: Centering the story on a formidable female assassin, tapping into popular trends of female-led action.
Efficient Storytelling: Getting straight to the core plot elements of betrayal and revenge without extensive character backstories or complex subplots.
Visual Efficiency: Utilizing his role as cinematographer to make the most of available resources, focusing on clear action choreography and impactful visuals.
Genre Homage (or Mockery): Consciously or subconsciously, playing into the tropes of the "ballerina assassin" archetype popularized by larger films.
Themes
Revenge: The central driving force of the protagonist's journey.
Betrayal: The catalyst for the entire plot, setting Maria on her path.
Survival: Maria's constant struggle against overwhelming odds.
Justice (Personal): Her quest to bring down the syndicate, even if outside legal channels.
Underdog Story: A single individual taking on a powerful organization.
Key Success Factors
Timely Release (Mockbuster Strategy): Releasing simultaneously with the John Wick spin-off Ballerina allows it to capture search traffic and curious viewers looking for "ballerina assassin" content.
Action-Packed Premise: The core concept of a skilled assassin seeking revenge is a reliable draw for action fans.
Direct-to-Digital Accessibility: Being readily available on VOD and streaming platforms makes it easy for its target audience to find and watch.
Michael Su's Experience: As a director who consistently delivers films for The Asylum, he knows how to maximize production value within their budget model.
Female Action Lead: Preet Kaur's role as the central action hero can appeal to audiences seeking diverse leads in the genre.
Production Summary
"Ballerina Assassin" is an action-thriller film with a runtime often listed between 70 and 90 minutes. It was produced in 2024 for a 2025 release.
Directed by: Michael Su
Written by: Jacob David Smith
Cast:
Preet Kaur as Maria Herrera
Dominic Keating as Bixby
G. Anthony Joseph as Farrance David
Joe Kurak as Agent Ford
Nicolas Sellar as Javier Aguilar
Winston Salk as Agent Kenneth Cooper
Rocio Scotto as Carmen Aguilar
Anthony J. Cruz as Ramirez
Ignacio Alcala Jr. as Miguel
Producers: David Rimawi, David Michael Latt, Paul Bales (Executive Producers, typical for The Asylum)
Cinematography: Michael Su (often serves as DP on his Asylum films)
Production Design: Cassidy Serene
Art Director: Charlie Harris
Costume Design: Tsion Mitchell
Casting: Darya Balyura
Production Companies
The Asylum
Vermicious Knid Entertainment (also listed as a production/financing company)
Sales Companies
The Asylum handles its own distribution and sales for many of its titles.
Distribution Companies
The Asylum (Domestic, VOD/Digital)
Available on platforms like:
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV / iTunes
Plex
Vudu
Why to recommend this movie
If you enjoy low-budget, high-action B-movies: It offers straightforward thrills without the pretense of a blockbuster.
For fans of The Asylum's particular style: If you appreciate their unique brand of genre filmmaking and mockbusters.
If you're looking for a quick, action-packed watch: Its shorter runtime likely means a high density of action.
To see an independent take on the "assassin with a grudge" trope: A familiar story executed with its own distinct flavor.
Why to Watch Movie
If you're curious about "mockbusters": See how The Asylum directly competes (or complements) a major studio release.
For pure escapist action: Don't expect deep plots, just a focus on fights and chases.
To support independent genre filmmaking: Even at the low end of the spectrum, it's a testament to indie grit.
If you enjoy female-led action films: Preet Kaur takes center stage as the vengeful assassin.
Movie Trend
"Ballerina Assassin" perfectly exemplifies the Mockbuster Trend driven by The Asylum, where independent studios create films with similar themes and titles to high-profile Hollywood releases, often benefiting from search engine traffic and consumer confusion. It also aligns with the broader Direct-to-Digital Action Film trend, where many genre films find their primary audience through VOD and streaming platforms rather than traditional theatrical runs.
Social Trend
"Ballerina Assassin" subtly touches on the social trend of Consumption of "Fast Content" and Niche Entertainment. In an era of content saturation, audiences are increasingly open to quick, accessible, and often less polished entertainment that caters directly to specific genre preferences (like action or revenge thrillers). The mockbuster model thrives on this, offering an immediate, lower-commitment alternative to bigger studio fare, fitting into a culture that often values volume and accessibility over cinematic grandeur.
Final Verdict
"Ballerina Assassin" is a quintessential offering from The Asylum, designed to deliver a straightforward, action-packed revenge thriller. Directed by veteran Michael Su, it follows an elite assassin's quest for vengeance after her network is betrayed and wiped out. While it exists as a deliberate "mockbuster" to the larger John Wick spin-off Ballerina, it aims to provide its own brand of low-budget, high-octane thrills. For viewers who appreciate the unique charm of B-movies and direct-to-digital action, or those simply curious about the mockbuster phenomenon, "Ballerina Assassin" offers a concise and no-nonsense journey into betrayal and bloody retribution, led by a determined female protagonist.
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