1
0
I’m not one to read other reviewers’ takes on movies. After all, the only opinion I trust is my own. OK, there are a few close circle friends in the blogging business that I discuss with but for the most part, I watch a movie and then I come up with my own take on it and you can agree or agree to disagree.
This weekend saw the release of the second bullet infested indie action epic Shrapnel from director William Kaufman. Earlier this month, he delivered the brutal and gritty crime epic The Channel which was his best output to date as it delivered a retro HEAT vibe with way more firepower. Clearly one of the best action pics of 2023.
Now we turn our attention to Shrapnel which stars Jason Patric as a rancher and former Marine who decides to take the law into his own hands when his daughter disappears along with her friend while on vacation in Mexico. To make matters worse, he finds out that the local cops are on the take with the ruthless cartel that is behind so he enlists his Marine comrade played by Cam Gigandet to launch an over the border assault to get the girls back at all costs.
Kaufman (The Hit List, Jarhead 3) directs from an original screenplay by Chad Law (Daylight’s End, Section 8) and Johnny Walters. Definitely good company to have around while making an action film as Law and Kaufman have been collaborating on action films for years now churning out such indie classics as Daylights End, Jarhead 3: The Siege, and The Hit List. When you see one let alone both men’s names on a project, you know you’re going to get your money’s worth.
So I’ve seen some blurbs from reviews calling this one dull, lifeless and tiresome. Once again, to each their own and I respect other people’s takes on films but come on. Now I will admit that we’ve seen this type of film before and Rambo himself even took it head on a few years ago and Liam Neeson made a franchise out of it but here we have a movie with way more limited resources than that one and here it delivers on blood, bullets and bravado for a bloody satisfying exercise in extreme filmmaking.
Now I will admit that Shrapnel doesn’t go weapons free for a little bit as we are introduced to Patric’s character of Sean who is a former trained killer now trying to live a quiet and normal life in Texas as a rancher. Things don’t go as planned when Sean learns that his daughter Leigh (Teresa Decher) has vanished while on holiday with her best friend in Mexico. Sean’s now tranquil life starts to spiral out of control as he ventures across the border to find out what happened.
Once in the foreign land so close to America, Sean discovers that the local authorities headed by officer Hector Montoya (David DeLaO) is not all that he seems as the car that the two girls were traveling in suddenly disappears without a trace and Sandoval threatens Sean with a trespass charge. It’s clear that he’s on the take which adds to Sean’s nightmare of helplessness for a man who was used to going Gung Ho most of his life as a Marine.
While investigating, Sean discovers that the cartel is called Los Mercenarios and is headed by the merciless Garza (Mauricio Mendoza) who leads an army filled with US trained killers who work for the highest price. Can you say mercs? To add more difficulty to the structure is a shady American official who urges him to cut his losses and go back home.
Before the adrenaline starts, screenwriters Chad Law and Johnny Walters showcase Sean’s disparity for the audience as his hands are tied at the beginning to do anything. Guilt and torment eventually lead to wrath and anger as Sean finally lets loose as he calls on Max (Cam Gigandet), a fellow Marine comrade, to assist him in eradicating any and everyone that is responsible for his daughter’s kidnapping. Knowing war, these two men branch out to inflict as much damage as they can in the film’s remaining running time that serves up a new meaning of extreme prejudice.
In terms of story and action, Kaufman, Law and Walters balance the tight rope of human drama and vicious action as the initial setup plays out unfolding into a no holds barred action fest of shootouts and beat downs. When Sean finally does what he does best along with Max, it’s ferocious and simple in its wrath and once again, Kaufman and company showcase tactical precision in the choreography that adds to the realism in the set pieces. From maneuvering to weapons transition, no one is doing it better than Kaufman and company in the realm of action cinema these days.
Patric as Sean delivers a performance that is spot on for any father watching as if this were to happen to my child, what would I do? As a father of three, I resonated with him and could feel his torment. Plus Patric has done this role before in the past action-thriller The Prince where he played a former assassin who takes up guns again when Bruce Willis kidnaps his daughter for revenge. Patric is an actor that is able to communicate to the audience through actions and looks as well as words.
As Max, Gigandet is the right hand man and friend to the end that Sean needs. Gigandet is no stranger to action as well and he is the perfect compliment to Sean as a friend who is willing to die to help him. The two share a bond of brotherhood that equals Clayne Crawford and Max Martini in The Channel.
The standout sequence is the home invasion set piece when the cartel rolls up on Sean’s ranch to take out him, his wife and younger daughter. It’s pedal to the metal for minutes and it highlights what Sean can do when put into this type of situation. He doesn’t even go stealth as he blows off the head of one invader even before they have a chance to lock n load. He’s a battering ram with heavy firepower and it just goes to show you that bad guys should really do their research on someone before they mess with him,
Shrapnel is a dirty and grounded film that is a refreshing change of pace to all the CGI infused films we are getting as of late. This weekend saw the release of Hidden Strike with Jackie Chan and John Cena and while that film was alright, it was bogged down by excessive computer imagery and wire work. If you’re looking for something different than look no further as Shrapnel captures a high-octane feel through more practical means and done by a cast and crew that love the genre.
Overall, Shrapnel is a dialed in rescue thriller that is as advertised. Bonus points for character building and dramatic intake before the bullets start to fly because when they do, it’s gritty, brutal and satisfying. When you watch the trailer for this type of movie, you know what you’re going to get so fans of the genre and the filmmaker won’t be disappointed. If you know the genre then you’ll get it.
Patric and Gigandet are solid in their roles and showcase a bond of brotherhood that is unflinching and also that you don’t have to look like Rambo or Commando to be a lethal killing machine. The excess of the 80’s is over in terms of action stars looking like they came out of a bodybuilding competition and these men are more realistic in their portrayals as trained killers can look like the neighbor next door.
Make no mistake though as Shrapnel may not have the excess of the 80’s but it still has the old school look and feel of the decade with practical effects and good old reliable stunt work. Once again, this is my go to type of movie when Blockbuster was open. When the action hits, it hits you like blunt force trauma that is unwavering in its violence and execution.
This might be a story told many times before but Kaufman and company put their own stamp on it and create a little, independent actioner that has as much bite, if not more. as a film with three times its budget. That makes Shrapnel all the more impressive.
VERDICT: 4 Out of 5 Stars
ACTION-FLIX APPROVED!
Shrapnel is an Independent Actioner that Hits the Audience with Brotherhood, Bullets, Blood and Bravado for a Satisfying Film tat Takes No Prisoners.
Shrapnel is now playing in select theaters, as well as VOD & Digital July 28th!!!
[…] dynamic that action-oriented reviewers have praised as one of the film’s strengths. (ACTION-FLIX.COM) The supporting cast, including Guillermo Iván and Mauricio Mendoza on the cartel side, are mostly […]