Month: June 2021

Today’s quick review: First Kill. Worried that his son Danny (Ty Shelton) is being bullied at school, stockbroker Will Beeman (Hayden Christensen) takes him to the town where he grew up for a hunting trip. But their bonding activity takes a dark turn when they witness a violent confrontation between a bank robber and a crooked cop. Unsure of who to trust, Will then lies about the incident to Marvin Howell (Bruce Willis), the local sheriff.

First Kill is a crime thriller about a father and son who wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their encounter with Levi (Gethin Anthony), the culprit of a recent bank robbery in town, leaves Danny in danger and Will unable to go to the police for help. Will’s attempts to save his son, the hunt for the missing cash, and the uncertain motives of Sheriff Howell combine into a decent story, but its characters and emotional arc never hit home.

First Kill does a decent job of spinning its premise into a full story. The plot isn’t especially deep, but it has enough twists and turns to keep the viewer occupied. Much of the appeal comes from Will’s attempts to navigate a tricky situation, trying to save Danny without admitting what he witnessed. However, the parts are greater than the whole. The movie gets its individual scenes right but doesn’t have a strong sense of progression.

First Kill is also on shaky ground when it comes to its heart. The personal side of the story involves Danny finding his courage and Will learning to become a more responsive father, but neither of them is all that appealing as a character. The supporting cast doesn’t pick up the slack either: Howell only plays a distant role in the plot, Levi has a couple of good moments but nothing more, and Will’s wife Laura (Megan Leonard) contributes little.

The end result is a mediocre crime thriller with an interesting premise but mixed follow-through. First Kill holds some appeal for viewers who are more interested in plot than character. But ultimately it’s let down by lukewarm characters and lack of a clear vision for how its pieces should fit together. Crime aficionados may get something out of it, but there are better options available.

For a minimalistic crime thriller with a similar premise, try Cop Car. For another small-town crime drama with a more intricate plot, try Shimmer Lake. For a hunting-themed action movie, try Killing Season. For a Bruce Willis crime thriller with a darker tone, a better plot, and similar issues with focus, try Hostage.

4.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for an interesting setup and mixed execution.

Today’s quick review: Avengement. After seven years in one of the most brutal prisons in Britain, Cain Burgess (Scott Adkins) escapes and sets out for revenge. Taking a bar full of criminals hostage, Cain demands to see his older brother Lincoln (Craig Fairbrass), the leader of the gang. Over a few pints of beer and the barrel of a shotgun, Cain tells his hostages about the nightmarish time he spent in prison and how his own brother betrayed him.

Avengement is a budget action movie about an escaped prisoner and his quest for revenge. The bulk of the story is told through flashbacks to Cain’s time in prison and the circumstances leading up to his arrest. The nonlinear storytelling leads to a few mysteries that make the plot more interesting than the typical budget flick. Coupled with the film’s visceral action scenes, this makes Avengement a surprisingly viable choice for action fans.

Avengement puts its framing device to good use. By jumping between Cain’s hostage situation in the present and his struggles in the past, the movie gets to tell the story in the order it chooses, gradually filling in the reasons for Cain’s violent actions. The action scenes are serviceable, using a mixture of Scott Adkins’ martial arts skills and graphic violence to get the point across. As such, the movie has a solid foundation to work with.

Still, Avengement is missing the fine touch needed to live up to its full potential. The film’s nonlinear storytelling gives it a prime opportunity for plot twists, but nothing it reveals is all that shocking. Instead it tacks on new information that enriches the story but hasn’t been properly set up, underselling what could be fascinating mysteries. The end result is a movie that has the right idea but can’t quite see it all the way through.

Fans of the action genre, especially ones who are used to budget offerings, may want to give Avengement a shot. Limited scope and a story that’s mishandled in minor ways mean that it falls short of what it could have been. But even so, Avengement’s action is satisfying, its plot has some thought put into it, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

For an even more plot-centric movie set in the British criminal underworld, try Layer Cake. For another action movie starring Scott Adkins, try The Debt Collector or Savage Dog. For a budget crime thriller that tries something similar with worse results, try Checkmate or 4Got10.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for a decent mix of action and plot with some missed potential.