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 ‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)
Based on real events… That haven’t happened… Yet. Don’t Look Up tells the story of two minor league […]
Vampire Movies You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into
Vampires have been around for centuries, vampire movies, on the other hand, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that […]
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 ‘Nosferatu’ (2024)
Although we are greeted by Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) covered in a dark, bluish hue (similar to the nighttime […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Die Hard’ (1988)
To solve the ongoing debate for whether or not Die Hard is in fact a Christmas movie, Jacked In’s Jack, […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ (1999)
Seen through the lens of a camera crew, we (predominantly) follow the life of high schooler/make-up artist for the […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Afterlife Photo’ (2023)
Director and writer, Tatsuaki Mizoi brings us an individual (Mitsuki Moriyama) who hires a photography studio to […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Evil Dead Rise’ (2023)
We open with a particularly, classic, demonic POV as it gives us a tour of what seems to be a familiar woodland […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Joker’ (2019)
Brutal homicides, cigarettes and a cool as f*ck slow-motion dance down the stairs sequence (just ignore the Gary […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Mean’ (2023)
Director, Joshua Blewitt brings us chauvinistic, narcissist, movie lover and filmmaker, Chez Florentine (Joe […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)
Bringing Bryan Lee O’Malley’s quirky, indie, graphic novel to life we have Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. […]