Today’s quick review: Everly. Everly (Salma Hayek) has spent four years enslaved to the sadistic Japanese mob boss Taiko (Hiroyuki Watanabe). One night, Everly seizes on an opportunity to shoot her way free of Taiko’s men. But before she can escape her apartment, Taiko sends reinforcements to try to kill her. Now Everly must use every weapon at her disposal to beat Taiko’s assassins and reach her waiting mother (Laura Cepeda) and daughter (Aisha Ayamah).
Everly is a violent action movie with touches of black comedy. Everly is one part gritty drama and one part gory revenge flick. The emotional core of the movie is Everly’s struggle to escape her captors and reunite with her family. But along the way the film indulges in over-the-top violence, absurd situations, and a cavalcade of low-rent assassins. The result is a quirky, Tarantino-esque spin on the action genre that’s peppered with somber moments.
Unfortunately, Everly lacks the artistry necessary to make its delicate balance of action, drama, and comedy work. The tone seesaws abruptly between serious and absurd with no real transition period between them. The film’s pervasive gore and mature content limit its appeal to viewers with a high tolerance for the perverse, while the scattered moments of genuine drama push that threshold even higher.
For those who can stomach the violence and suffering, Everly holds a few unusual treats. The fight scenes are fast-paced and satisfying, fueled by Everly’s resourcefulness, determination, and prowess with a gun. The humor has some nice, dark irony to it that meshes well with the more outlandish aspects of Everly’s predicament. The movie also wastes no time in getting set up, dropping the viewer straight into the action with little exposition.
Watch Everly only if you’re interested in an experiment in gory action. Everly’s peculiar tone, mixed execution, and sheer violence mean that most viewers will find it lacking at best and repulsive at worst, but the curious should give it a shot. For a stylish, bloody action movie with better execution, try Kill Bill. For a violent action comedy with a lighter tone, try Smokin’ Aces. For a gory, tongue-in-cheek action movie, try Shoot ‘Em Up.
5.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for satisfying action offset by the film’s odd tone and mature content.