Directed by:
James WanScreenplay:
Ian Mackenzie JeffersCinematography:
John R. LeonettiComposer:
Charlie ClouserCast:
Kevin Bacon, Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Aisha Tyler, John Goodman, Jordan Garrett, Stuart Lafferty, Edi Gathegi, Matt O'Leary, Leigh Whannell (more)Plots(1)
Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life until one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. His family falls victim to a vicious attack perpetrated by a gang as part of their initiation ritual and his son is brutally murdered. When Hume is failed by the judicial system he vows to track every person involved in the crime, and embarks on a vigilante mission which not only sets off a police investigation, but starts a cycle of violence that draws his whole family into the politics of the gang who perpetrated the crime. Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family. (20th Century Fox)
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Reviews (9)
Kevin Bacon is a stud and he's good with a shotgun. James Wan once again revels in dark camera filters, and the whole thing is nicely straightforward and devoid of all unnecessary bullshit about morality. A simple but perfectly effective film that offers exactly what is expected of it.
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A ruthless bloodbath, like it came out of the 80s. Comparisons with earlier Charles Bronson movies is certainly fitting. It’s good that Wan brought this pair back to life, because ruthless, atmospheric shootouts where the main protagonist loses everything and sets out on the road to revenge are woefully few and far between these days. And Kevin Bacon in the main role was superb.
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EdaS speaks to my soul, I would just add that even Arnold feeding a fawn with his daughter at the beginning of Commando was more believable than Bacon's emotional outpourings here. The action is pretty decent, Wan is good with the camera, but the rest is just bad. I don't think even Pepek Vyskoč could eat that. And back to Kevin Bacon, as brilliant as he was in The Woodsman, here I felt sorry for him. It was awful, Kevin. I miss Charles Bronson.
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I join the ranks of those who didn’t like the direction the story takes in the last half hour. If the film had finished three quarters in, my rating would be higher. But what happens after that is pretty awful. Kevin Bacon suddenly stops being believable and all his behaviour becomes contrived (and that also applies to other characters). A solid thriller like this deserved a better ending. I’ve nothing against Wan’s direction, I liked it, but I hope he picks a better script next time. 65%
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The days of heroes in the Seagal mould are gone. Today’s tough guys are managers in ties played by character actors who avenge their families. Director James Wan knows how to work with actors, has talent for dynamics and creating a rough, almost furious atmosphere with a rock-n-roll music background and sometimes cleverly toys with spectacularly long shots (the parking lot). Because of all this, it is a pity that his visually impressive work is spoiled by occasional stupid and illogical moments. Not even all the hard work the director puts into the psychological and emotional moments (intimate conversations with the protagonist’s wife and son) can smooth it out. The result is “just” enjoyable and interesting, while keeping the audience curious about where the director will go next time. He can certainly do better, but he finds it difficult to find the right balance between his directing approach and the screenplay that worked out so well in Saw.
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