The film stars Michelle Rodriguez, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia, Caitlin Gerard, and Sigourney Weaver.

After losing her medical license, she began an illegal practice and performed unwanted surgical experiments on impoverished homeless people.

Three years prior, Jane's brother Sebastian was murdered by professional killer Frank Kitchen.

Finding a box in the room with hormones and a tape recorder, Frank discovers a message left to him by Jane encouraging him to start over.

Leaving the hotel, Frank contacts a woman he hooked up with named Johnnie and asks to stay at her home while he recovers.

She recounts the events surrounding Frank's surgery and the murders at her clinic that led to her incarceration, but ultimately expresses no remorse for her actions.

Frank sets out to kill everyone involved in his operation, including the men on Honest John's payroll.

Frank refuses, reloads his gun with a bullet he had taped to the sole of his boot and shoots Jane, non-fatally.

After completing his revenge, Frank records a video in which he tells her side of the story, to be released after his death.

At her final meeting with Galen, Dr. Jane reveals that she had hoped to convince him to help her be deemed mentally fit for trial, but realized that it was over when she attacked him.

The film ends with Jane examining her mutilated hands; Frank had severed her fingers to ensure she would never practice again.

Walter Hill recalls, "I liked its audacity, and its potential to be ... this always sounds patronizing, but a kind of really terrific B movie.

The site's critical consensus reads, "The Assignment's premise is bizarrely intriguing; unfortunately, it's also just one of many ingredients fumbled in a disappointing misfire from director Walter Hill.

[20] Dennis Harvey of Variety gave the film a negative review, writing: "Gracelessly mashes together hardboiled crime-melodrama cliches and an unintentionally funny 'Oh no!

"[21] Wendy Ide of Screen International also gave the film a negative review, writing: "Despite liberally quoting Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe, the screenplay is just not sharp enough to make the audience feel vindicated about dumbing down.

[23] The transgender community was largely disappointed by the image of forced gender reassignment surgery and a boycott was created in response.

[5][24][25] The director Walter Hill responded by stating, "I wouldn't make a movie that hurt transgender people.