Review by John Delia, Sr.
Violence seems to be a bit prevalent in the movies these days with the likes of John Wick 3 being released last week and now the brutal Avengement takes the screen this weekend. Not as fast and furious as Wick, but this film has more brutality. Leaving nothing to the imagination, the movie starts and end with every possible vicious brawl that can place in an hour and a half screen time.
Escaping from jail where he is serving time for murder and robbery, ex-fist fighter Cain Burgess (Scott Adkins) heads straight for his former neighborhood. Looking for the truth behind his being incarcerated in the toughest jail in London, his first stop is the Horse & Jockey Pub. It’s where Hyde (Nick Moran), his mob boss brother Lincoln Burgess’ (Craig Fairbrass) right hand man, has his office.
Wanting to know for certain what he expects from gossip at the jail that he was framed, the bar has seven of Hyde’s bodyguards chatting about a recent killing. So begins a tale of revenge where the perpetrators take aim at Cain’s will to live versus a bevy of cons and his brother’s cohorts.
Director and writer Jessi V. Johnson sets up a good storyline and fills if with some of the most realistic looking vicious and brutal fighting. Although not as stylish, its John Wick times two for the punching, stabbing, kicking and slashing. It looks so real at times you may have to turn you head away to reset your brain for what’s more to come. And it does, nastier than the last altercation and leading to another. It’s what Johnson is noted for and he does it well.
As Cain, Scott Adkins (The Expendables 2, Abduction) shows his character is ready for all-out war against some of the roughest guys in one of London’s unforgiving prisons. The attacks are swift and the fighting very realistic as Cain gets one beating after another. That alone may have your brain on slow burn, but then there’s the Pub. It may be the filmmaker’s realism that makes it so painful to watch, but its Adkins ability to throw punches and take a beating that gives the credibility to make his performance work.
Avengement has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains brutal fight violence and crude language. A tip of the hat to fight coordinators Dan Stylesand and Luke LaFontaine who make it all look real. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have multiple scenes that are bloody and gut wrenching.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A film that most action junkies with like. (If you are a fan of the genre 3.5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Scott Adkins, Craig Fairbrass, Thomas Turgoose, Nick Moran, Kierston Wareing, Leo Gregory, Beau Fowler, Louis Mandylor,
Directed and written by: Jessi V. Johnson
Genre: Action, Crime
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains violence, language, brutal fighting
Running Time: 1 hr. 30 min.
Opening Date: May 24, 2019
Distributed by: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Released in: Standard