Director: Travis Taute
Year: 2021
Country: South Africa
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Action
Plot:
Troubled by a tragic accident, a firefighter finds his marriage falling apart and his job at the station struggling after the incident which finally forces him to visit a psychologist about what's going on. After several tries to get to the bottom of his condition, he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect in his wife's murder when he wakes up next to her dead body and is forced to go on the run to protect his image and reputation from the police. As his investigation into the incident reveals his unwitting involvement in a massive arms-dealer conspiracy that turned him into a programmable killer, he races to clear his name before the assassins silence him forever.
Review:
This was a generally likable but overall confusing effort. That there's a lot to like with the general setup in play is a fine start to this one, generating some intrigue about the particular conspiracy at the center of the film. With a deeply woven and intricate web of storylines involving black-ops military assassinations, brainwashing, and cover-ups among other topics, the main aspects of the storyline here are rather intriguing as it sets up a highly involved scenario with a lot to like about it. Added together with the series of revelations that arise from the information discovered on the conspiracy, the film is exceptionally fun and enjoyable throughout.
This carries over into the thrilling action scenes featured here. With the initial crash that sets him free coming at the end of a frenetic battle with a thug inside the back of the car, it sets into motion a rather thrilling series of scenes involving the ruthless thugs coming after him. From confrontations inside a hotel with both thugs and the trailing cops, a fantastic shootout sequence inside the firefighting station that serves as a massacre of the other station members and numerous standoffs and other encounters, the action is rather fun here. With an explosive finale that brings everything together with some fine stunt work and emotional catharsis, there's a lot to like here.
There isn't much to dislike but it does have some issues. The main drawback to be had here is the complex web of deceit and political happenstance that gets carried out throughout here that can be quite messy to sort through at points. Since so much of the film is focused on his quest for the truth behind the situation, there's a lot of information revealed late in the film that can make following along somewhat troubling. With a far-ranging conspiracy involving a multinational armament deal, political assassinations, and the manipulation of genetic compounds to trigger PTSD symptoms in unwitting test subjects, the chance to be confused is quite high in this one.
That also highlights a secondary fact that there's a lot that takes place here so it's somewhat longer than necessary. There's little need for the film to run over two hours with what's happening here since it carries on with several storylines that can cause this to drag at points. Carrying on the police investigation into the series of incidents and dead bodies left in his trail, his own investigation into the conspiracy that uncovers all the various side-points and bits that emerge, and the plots enacted to keep their involvements a secret all make this one feel much longer than it needs to, but otherwise, there's a lot to like here.
Overview: ***.5/5
A fun, stylish, and twisty Action/Thriller that has quite a lot to like about it while its twisty storyline can be too complex for its own good at times, there’s quite a bit to like that makes for a highly enjoyable time. Give this a look if you’re a fan of the genre or style or even thinking of looking into this one, while only those that don’t appreciate this style should heed caution here.
This review ran as part of our coverage of the 2021 Fantasia International Film Festival. Click the banner below to check out all of our coverage, including reviews and interviews, from the event:
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