Gary J Hewitt’s The Defender pretty much delivers what it promises on the tin. This is a story we’ve seen time and time again. If someone described a movie about a vigilante with a troubled past, taking the law into their own hands, already your mind is swarming with titles.
However, the plot isn’t necessarily the issue, there’s a reason the subgenre is used so often, people enjoy it – and you can certainly make it your own. After all, John Wick is different from Death Wish and both differ again from British approaches like Harry Brown. The problem is, that everything in this movie is simply competent. There’s nothing that grants it individuality or makes the film stand out amongst its peers.
A thriller without the thrills
The pacing is somewhat one note and a lot of the scenes tend to linger past last orders, making it (for the most part) a thriller without the thrills. The Scottish setting – as well the recordings from the mother – do give things a bit more steam and kudos to the acting chops of Sasha Macpherson. Unfortunately, they could have perhaps shined brighter within a film with more substance.
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Descent’ (2005)
A year after the tragic loss of her husband and daughter, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) goes on a hiking trip with her […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The One’ (2001)
Yulaw (Jet Li), former police of the multiverse gone rogue, travels to other dimensions offing alternate versions […]
Behind The Scenes of Sam Raimi’s ‘Army of Darkness’
Travelling back in time, far away from the intimate cabin in the woods setting, we have Army of Darkness AKA […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘It’s John’ (2023)
It’s John follows amateur filmmaker Smithy Jones (Victor Hampson), and his rag-tag team of actors who are in the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Drive’ (2011)
Drive follows the story of a Hollywood stuntman/mechanic (Ryan Gosling) who also happens to moonlight as a getaway […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Candyman’ (2021)
Warning this review has SPOILERS regarding Candyman (2021), so if you wish to keep the element of surprise intact, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Misdirection’ (2023)
Every now and again you’re given a film that doesn’t necessarily have a start, middle and end but still manages to […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Mortal Kombat’ (2021)
Video Game movies have a proven track record of not hitting the mark and can often be seen as a double-edged sword […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Flash’ (2023)
After an astonishingly long production period, audiences are finally given the “last” instalment in the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ (2017)
Putting up with all the unfairness the world has dealt her, the last straw is finally reached for Ruth (Melanie […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The B Movie’ (2023)
The humble opening of Richard Bray’s documentary establishes what’s to come in terms of tone as we begin with […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Poor Things’ (2023)
As we settle into our red velvet seats at Tyneside Cinema, it becomes clear that their gorgeously old-fashioned, […]