Released: May 2019
Director: Jesse V. Johnson
Not Rated
Run Time: 90 Minutes
Genre: Action/Crime
Cast:
Scott Adkins: Cain Burgess
Craig Fairbrass: Lincoln Burgess
Thomas Turgoose: Tune
Nick Moran: Hyde
Kiersten Wareing: Bez
Louis Mandylor: Detective O’Hara
Can someone explain something to me? How is it that modern big-budget action films are no where near as good as their low-budget indie brethren? Has Hollywood lost touch with the genre? I think it has. Back in the days before CGI took over everything, the only way you could stunts and fights to really work on screen was to actually do them. Indiana Jones, Star Wars(original trilogy pre-Special Edition), Aliens, Commando. These films had to rely on tried and true methods that involved blood, sweat and tears, often literally. The difference between action films of today and yesteryear is literally night and day. These days, studios and film-makers rely on computers and digital trickery to do the work of folks who literally put their lives on the line for our entertainment. The indie film scene, however, has taken a…mostly old-school approach to action, almost by necessity as it were. Film-makers like Jino Kang, Isaac Florentine, and Jesse V. Johnson often rely on a what-you-see-is-what-you get tactic. Basically, if it can be done in camera, then that’s exactly what you will see. CGI is kept to a very bare minimum. Speaking of Jesse V. Johnson, he just released a new action thriller called Avengement. Let’s have a gander, shall we?
Cain Burgess is a low-level thug trying get back in the good graces of the crime organization that hired him. He had botched a job earlier and he has one more chance to prove himself, only to end up spending 7 years in prison, being attacked by inmates left and right. Forced to adopt a form of savagery in order to survive, Cain escapes from prison to hunt down the people who screwed him over. That’s pretty much the gist of the story. As I have said before, sometimes the simple approach is the best option. You don’t have any major twists or turns to get in the way of what you’re seeing, so any surprises you might have feel natural and earned. Like Accident Man, The Debt Collector, and Savage Dog, Avengement tells a simple, yet very compelling story that focuses on the characters. Most big-budget action movies seem to forget this aspect and it tends to stand out like a sore thumb. Here, though, the story hinges on the characters and the choices they make, and it sets up a very intense and bone-crunching thrill-ride. I really have to give Jesse V. Johnson some serious credit. Not only has he managed to deliver several really good action movies with substance in the last couple of years, he does it with style.
The acting in this film is fantastic, but it is Scott Adkins that steals the show. I’ve always been a big fan of Scott’s. Usually it’s because of his incredible physicality and his ability to do crazy flips and wild martial arts moves. He’s an amazing martial artist, but what I really like about the work he does for Mr. Johnson, is the fact that he’s given more room to expand as an actor. In Accident Man and The Debt Collector, we got to see a more humorous side to the actor that we usually don’t see. Even his turn as Boyka in the Undisputed films had more nuance and intensity than we see out of most martial arts actors. Scott’s turn as Cain may just be a career best. Cain is one scary dude, and Johnson basically lets Scott off the leash and as a result, Mr. Adkins delivers one of the most insane and frenetic performances I’ve ever seen. Yet, despite the absolute savagery that Scott delivers, there are smaller and more emotional moments that Scott has when his character talks to his mother. These are wonderful moments that give Cain a more human touch. Craig Fairbrass plays Cain’s older brother, Lincoln, the head of the crime organization. Craig’s character doesn’t come across as your typical slimy villain. This is a 3-dimensional character that while not a good guy, is still human. So, overall, the acting is pretty good.
When it comes to action in films like Avengement, it’s important for everyone involved to understand how a film like this should be framed, shot and edited. You really get a grasp of how a film like this should be made when you watch movies from directors like Chad Stahelski(The John Wick films), Isaac Florentine(Ninja, Undisputed sequels), and Jesse V. Johnson. These guys basically started out in the stunt side of the industry. Because of that experience, they have a much better grasp of how fight sequences and stunts are coordinated, as well as camera placement and lighting. They want the audience to get the best possible view, so when a stunt man/coordinator gets in the director’s chair, they know how to make it work from a visual standpoint. Jesse V. Johnson’s approach to action is far more grounded in reality than most. You don’t see wires or CGI squibs, but you do get to see people actually get thrown through walls and windows. Avengement has some of the most vicious and brutal action I’ve seen in years. Instead of seeing Scott display acrobatic skills, the fights are far more meaty and more like brawls. It’s wonderfully chaotic, and Johnson doesn’t shy away from the violence. People get wrecked in this movie, including Cain. The fight choreography also comes courtesy of one Luke LaFontaine. It’s not flashy, it’s brutal, messy, and the film’s all the better for it.
I don’t know how Jesse V. Johnson does it. He’s managed to release more than 5 movies in the last two years and they’re all good. There aren’t a whole lot of big-budget triple-A film-makers that can say that. Obviously, he’s doing something right, because I’ve been a fan of his films since Savage Dog. Johnson’s got two more movies on the way, although I expect that number to increase as the year goes on, he’s so busy. Scott Adkins has become one of my all-time favorite martial arts actors. Not only does he have amazing screen-presence, he’s become a much better actor in the past few years. On the one hand, I would love to see him get a big break in Hollywood, but at the same time, I don’t think it would feel right. Same thing goes for Jesse V. Johnson, I feel that he would be constrained by the Hollywood system. I’m absolutely okay with with supporting these guys as indie film-makers. That’s why, along with Scott, I want people to watch these films legally and not pirate them. We should be so lucky to get movies like Avengement in spite of a system that screams for bigger and louder movies, when the best ones are smaller and pack more of a punch. Are there any negatives with Avengement? Not that I can see. It’s well-paced and it’s well-written. Is it better than Triple Threat? I honestly wouldn’t compare the two. They’re two very different kinds of action films. Why not love both? So, do I recommend Avengment? Hell, yes, I do! This is a savage, bone-crunching thrill ride that won’t let you down.
My Final Recommendation: Somebody give Cain a Snickers, maybe he’s just hungry. 10/10.