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 ‘Men’ (2022)
Following the passing of her husband, a young woman by the name of Harper (Jessie Buckley) decides to take a bit of […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Santa Clause’ (1994)
A movie responsible for a generation of adults spelling Santa Claus wrong, we have The Santa Clause. The story […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘All My Friends Hate Me’ (2021)
All My Friends Hate Me is set over the course of a weekend, following the story of Pete (Tom Stourton), who is […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Tinder Swindler’ (2022)
Swipe left, swipe right, left, right, left, left, right- IT’S A MATCH!.. Sound familiar? Tinder is one of the most […]
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 ‘The Monster Squad’ (1987)
Horror’s answer to The Goonies, The Monster Squad follows a bunch of kids in a club based around, you guessed it, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Nope’ (2022)
Similar to Jordan Peele’s last feature (Us), Nope opens with a subplot – the aftermath of a series of brutal […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Dredd’ (2012)
Dredd does exactly what an adaptation should and makes the source material its own, whilst staying true to the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Thir13en Ghosts’ (2001)
After losing his wife in a tragic house fire, Arthur Kriticos (Tony Shalhoub) struggles to make ends meet for him […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)
We find ourselves at the turn of the 20th century following the life of miner turned oilman, Daniel Plainview […]
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 ‘Rear Window’ (1954)
An Alfred Hitchock classic, Rear Window follows the life of L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart), a recently […]