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 Reviews ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)
For fear of having to dodge spoilers like the Green Goblin’s pumpkin grenades, Jacked In’s Jack hit the […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Perspective’ (2023)
Perspective chucks you straight into the deep end as we follow the story of Mike (Velton J Lishke) – an […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Hellraiser’ (2022)
After a 4 year hiatus, a new Hellraiser dawns on the big (well, depending on the size of your television) screen […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Defender’ (2023)
Gary J Hewitt’s The Defender pretty much delivers what it promises on the tin. This is a story we’ve seen […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘V for Vendetta’ (2005)
Based on Alan Moore’s DC comic series of the same name, written for the screen by The Wachowski’s (The Matrix), V […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The One’ (2001)
Yulaw (Jet Li), former police of the multiverse gone rogue, travels to other dimensions offing alternate versions […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Bite The Hand’ (2023)
Bite the Hand sees Grace (Lucy Shervington), an individual attending counselling for depression brought on by her […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Iron Claw’ (2023)
The pillars surrounding the screen at Tyneside Cinema provides the perfect opening, as a black and white man comes […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Five Stages of Wardrobe Assembly’ (2023)
A story of suppression, isolated from the outside world, we follow a young man (Kieran Mcmillan) as he begins […]
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 […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Hook’ (1991)
We meet Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a middle-aged, workaholic, lawyer who spends most of his days avoiding his […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (2021)
As the eerie paranormal music begins to play over the opening credits of Ghostbusters: Afterlife you’re immediately […]