Shrapnel

It would be best if you first switched off any expectations of reality. This is a B move, and with that mindset, I enjoyed it. It does take around the half-hour mark to get the action going, and it doesn't spend time introducing the viewer to the victim; Shrapnel expects that we understand and move on. This is well done, with lots of splatter and a little torture. Having watched Equalizer 3 recently, I thought if the script and production had been a little better, you could swap Jason Patric for Denzel Washington, and Shrapnel would have been a better Equalizer 3. But Jason Patric holds his own. Leave any reasoning at the door, and if action revenge is for you, then I expect you will enjoy it.

Pulse pounding gunfights and a tense script keep the eyes glued to the screen. I did not except too much going into this movie and thought it would be just another mediocre action movie. What a surprise to find it thrilling and entertaining. Starts off slow as it builds the backstory and the inevitable showdown that is about to come.

Once that starts it is non-stop.

Most of all it was the gunfighting that hooked me. Some of the best since movies like heat or John Wick, but more more visceral.

Who does not like to see a violent cartel get what's coming, and this movie delivers in spades. What needs to happen, happens.

Former Marine Sean Beckwith (Jason Patric) is searching for his missing daughter in Mexico. Max Vohden (Cam Gigandet) is his war buddy.

I come into this knowing that it's a B-movie. When the daughter says "You promised you'd keep us safe. You didn't.", I realized that this is going to be badly written, too. This is an old school Rambo action flick where the good guys take out dozens of bad guys. Sean is never going to get killed and the daughter is certain to be rescued. That's the part which seems to be annoying most critics. I'm not as annoyed with that. It doesn't help that car doors and flimsy walls become bulletproof in this world. It's all badly written. Sean should have taken the cartel brother hostage and make a prisoner exchange. Instead, two guys are going into Mexico to take on the cartel home base. Of course, nothing can go wrong.

This review will be spoiler free. The premise of the movie being a former soldiers daughter was abducted in Juarez, Mexico and the father went looking for his daughter in Juarez. Trouble followed him back home to Texas.

The premise is good, has potential but the actual movie is incredibly slow to get moving and the script, production and acting are D grade, even beneath midday, telemovie, standards.

I paid a paltry $4 for the rental of this movie from Prime and believe I was dudded, it's that poor I don't think it even has a viewing value of $4.

So impressed by this. Simple story but well told. Great pace . Good enough acting and well staged action sequences. Small criticism is the sound during gunfights seemed at odds with action on the screen but more than watchable. Maybe it was the platform I watched it on(sky cinema) I'd recommend this as a brisk. Brain out , 89 minute action movie that for sure has you rooting for the hero not the Mexican cartel. Satisfactory ending. Don't expect a big budget hollywood blockbuster and accept it's a better "B" movie than we have a right to expect and you will be absolutely fine. Probably made for the catering bill on a marvel bill. Impressive.