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 ‘Super’ (2010)
Super follows the story of Frank Darbo (Rainn Wilson), a luckless fry cook who has literally only had two perfect […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Our Friend’ (2019)
Our Friend, a true story based on the article written by journalist, Matthew Teague, follows the life of a family […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Mean’ (2023)
Director, Joshua Blewitt brings us chauvinistic, narcissist, movie lover and filmmaker, Chez Florentine (Joe […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Sid’ (2023)
A tale that was just waiting to be told, Shahzaib Yaqoob’s short brings us a dark re-imagining, showing the […]
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 Reviews ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ (2022)
Bungalow homes, cars that look like electric shavers and a round of Gibson’s for everyone. The ’50s […]
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 ‘Natura’ (2023)
From the opening shot, you’re immediately captured by an open woodland which truly readies you for being emersed in […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Flash’ (2023)
After an astonishingly long production period, audiences are finally given the “last” instalment in the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Butterfly Effect’ (2004)
Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher) has reached his adult years being a constant sufferer of blackouts which have caused […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ (2022)
As we open on a black & white prologue showing a mixture of live action and animation, we see the infamous Jean […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Perspective’ (2023)
Perspective chucks you straight into the deep end as we follow the story of Mike (Velton J Lishke) – an […]