Firstly, two films that received scathing reviews on release that, with reservations, I enjoyed.
Liam Neeson is now in his 70th year but he does not appear to be winding down the action movie phase of his career. Now available on Amazon Prime, The Ice Road sees him with a new set of special skills involving the ability to drive huge trucks over melting ice roads. He is part of a team that are risking their lives to take equipment needed to free workers from a collapsed mine whilst their air rapidly runs out.
That is a terrific set up and for the first half hour or so, it seemed that director Jonathan Hensleigh, who also penned the screenplay, was going to deliver something special. A set of interesting characters and a tense scenario are expertly introduced. The latter part of the film is let down a little by some shonky effects, and an unnecessary plot about corrupt bosses at the mine. Nevertheless, the pacing remains excellent and Neeson gives his all.
The Ice Road: 7.5 out of 10
A few weeks ago, The Little Things would have set you back £19.99 to rent at home. You can now get it for £1.99 on Amazon, which is an indication of how badly it has fared. Denzel Washington stars as a small town deputy Sherriff sent to Los Angeles to pick up evidence for a case who becomes involved in detective Remi Malek’s investigation into a serial killer.
The first hour of this film was a real treat. The procedural element of the plot is realistically dramatized and the dynamic between Washington and Malek is great. But the plot in the second hour becomes very implausible, and Jared Leto is awful as the main suspect.
The Little Things: 7 out of 10
Of the latest batch of new films on Sky, easily the best of the bunch is Kindred. The story of a pregnant woman being manipulated and then terrorised by her dead partner’s mother is hardly original but it has some genuine scares and a creepy performance from Fiona Shaw.
Kindred: 6 out of 10
Take Back is a by the numbers action thriller about a couple rescuing their kidnapped daughter that features a bizarre performance by Mickey Rourke.
Take Back: 3 out of 10
Redemption Day is another routine thriller about, this time, a husband trying to free his kidnapped wife. This works a little better thanks to a superior cast that includes Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia and Martin Donovan.
Redemption Day: 4.5 out of 10
The clumsily titled Dark Web: Cicada 3301 is a muddled mess of a film about a hacker getting involved in a conspiracy. It has an uneven tone, with some really tasteless humour, and is all over the place to start with. The introduction of Conor Leslie as a librarian helps bring focus to the story that never grips.
Dark Web: Cicada 3301: 4 out of 10