Essential Killing is a 2010 Polish survival political thriller film co-written and directed by Jerzy Skolimowski and starring Vincent Gallo and Emmanuelle Seigner.

Gallo stars as an Islamic insurgent who finds himself fighting for survival in a frozen woodland, pursued by soldiers.

He had heard of rumored (and later revealed[2]) CIA use of the nearby Szymany Airfield for flights carrying prisoners from the Middle East.

Noticing he was two kilometers from Szymany, it occurred to him that the same could easily happen to a prisoner transport and, from this, he found the initial inspiration for the Essential Killing scenario.

Besides, it could be someone like John Walker Lindh, the famous Californian who became a Taliban member and joined Osama bin Laden's forces.

The site's critic consensus reads, "Driven by a uniquely stark mood and propulsive direction, Essential Killing excels due to an unrelentingly visceral performance from Vincent Gallo.

[9] Essential Killing received its world premiere In Competition on September 6, 2010 at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.

[12] Gallo was not present to receive his award, which was accepted on his behalf by Skolimowski, who urged the actor to come out of hiding in the audience and take the stage.