Regardless, this well-produced crime thriller will take you for a satisfying ride into calculated depravity and survival. Say what you will but this is, by far, director Dean Devlin’s best film ever.
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This isn’t an original film. But given the slate of recycled movies Hollywood has inflicted upon us, when has that ever gotten in the way of enjoying it?
David Tennant is the Bad Samaritan Who Has A Unhealthy (For Others) Horse Fetish. Insert irrelevant Dr Who references here. Robert Sheehan is the Unlucky Kid In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time. Insert “more people should watch Season 1 of Misfits” references here.
If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you’re in for a familiar time of thrills and spills. The style of moviemaking is reminiscent of a distinctly earlier time in the Hollywood era and this reviewer has no qualms about that. The plot does take certain liberties with reality, but so did The Centipede. However, instead of deliberately gratuitous body horror, Bad Samaritan keeps us at the edge of our seats with a story that does not let down for the entirety of its ambitious 1h 50min runtime. Developments and complications come thick, fast and most importantly – in a way that feels genuinely hard to predict. (This is also why you should avoid the trailer and reading reviews which may set up too much of the premise.)
The way the story reveals new information is measured in a way that maximizes suspense in certain sequences, particularly one involving an orange car. It also helps that the relatable performance of Robert Sheehan comes through for exactly what it’s meant to – present a believably vulnerable character in a difficult position. Speaking of difficult positions, Tennant’s performance here is a hard nut to crack. We’ve seen iconic psychopaths on screen for such a long time, it would take an immense injection of innovation to be a standout. Tennant does make a stellar effort, but his characterization drowns as one among many in a pool of genre films like these.
Regardless, this well-produced crime thriller will take you for a satisfying ride into calculated depravity and survival. Say what you will but this is, by far, director Dean Devlin’s best film ever. (His only other film was Geostorm.)
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