Opiniones de usuarios

Great acting, horrible filmmaking. I mean what a convoluted mess with so many plot and technical issues. My big complaint is who's related to who in what way and how and what business side are they on?

Writer and director John-Michael Powell had good intentions, and was only sucessfull in directing his cast properly, as all actors performances were excellent. But telling the story via screenplay and directing was a huge failure. It was overly frustrating trying to keep up with who's who and what role do they play. Such a missed opportunity had a little more effort gone into the filmmaking.

It's a generous 5/10 all going to the cast.

Well acted, good story, but something in the editing department let it down. I didn't feel any tension during the action scenes, and overall, I thought you could remove 20 minutes without losing anything.

Well acted, good story, but something in the editing department let it down. I didn't feel any tension during the action scenes, and overall, I thought you could remove 20 minutes without losing anything.

Between this and The Order (2024), I think it's safe to say I'm becoming the target audience for these gritty 90s crime dramas in Small Town, USA. So far, they're not anything special, but they don't need to be. I'll take 50 of these solid and consistent films over most things floating around out there.

We follow Billy Magnussen who plays Lucas Frost, an heir to a third of a family drug empire, as he deals with the aftermath of a terrible personal tragedy at the hands of his own estranged kin. Starting out as an honest man on his way out of the criminal world his family is steeped in, Lucas' need for revenge pushes him to a point of no return-hence, "Violent Ends."

I really like the idea of revenge on paper. Seeing justice carried out on bad people should be a slam dunk entertainment wise, but in practice, a delicate balance needs to be struck between satisfying retribution and keeping a grasp on the protagonist's good nature. This is why many revenge plots will go the route of "forgiveness," which this film addresses, but even that conclusion can feel underwhelming at times. In this case, this subjective topic came across as a little too indulgent on the side of blood or an "eye for an eye." Do I think it would have been a better movie if Lucas had shown more restraint? Not particularly. All I know is that my empathy for Lucas was significantly lessened once he crosses a certain line. The reaction from the brother and mother point to this being the intended impact, but even so, the emotional resonance at the end can only reach so far after this point.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Kate Burton, who I enjoyed in NBC's Grimm (2011-2017), play the mother of Lucas and a cop, Darlene Woodley. Unfortunately, I felt they didn't use her to the full potential. Early on, her careful investigation into the inciting incident seemed like it was going to surpass Lucas' messier rush for justice and offer something to say about playing things straight despite seemingly easier options, but her subplot was delegated to uncovering a "twist" about the case that I personally saw coming. Her contribution of this information wasn't even really necessary either as it was actively being revealed just as she arrives with it.

I couldn't help but think about Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014), which, despite the benefit of multiple seasons of television to build upon, handles the exact "brand" of vengeance this film was targeting much better on many occasions. As for a movie comp, one of my favorites of last year, The Dead Don't Hurt (2024) reaches a similar conclusion but handles the aftermath of the revenge tastefully enough to make the whole ordeal feel earned, which this movie lacks a bit (although, the flashback was a really nice touch to close it out).

My favorite scene was probably when Lucas and his brother Tuck seek out Uncle Walt Frost, played really well by Ray McKinnon, in order to negotiate for a more "rational" justice. This plan ends terribly, of course, but it was surely entertaining to watch.

Other random thoughts: I enjoyed the "rattlesnake" analogy to describe Lucas and his situation. I found it odd how Lucas demanded so much out of Tuck despite caring about him and knowing what his involvement could mean for his family (until the very end when it was too late). I felt that Lucas' "at least I'm doing something" justification for his actions was weak, especially considering the seemingly decent job his mother was doing given how recent the incident was.

Between this and The Order, I would choose the latter for the star power. It turns out that really does matter.

WATCHED ON: AMC Theaters

HIGHER OR LOWER: higher.

When the movie started, I was thinking it was a solid 7. The production was excellent, the acting was excellent, and the story captures you. By the end of it, it was a solid 8+. It's definitely worth your time and money to see it in the theater.

It's gritty, and it pulls no punches. It isn't violent for violence sake, or for shock effect. The violence is believable, and a necessary part of the narrative. The description doesn't do it justice.

If you're looking for a gritty, well produced, pull no punches movie, this is one to see. It's an interesting, captivating story. It's not a thriller, there are no laughs, it's just a good drama, and very well told story.

Money is thicker then blood in the film Violent Ends. The Frost brothers may have once been farmers, but the money they now bring in and the power they wield in the Ozarks, through drug dealing, is immense. There's absolutely no love lost between the brothers Frost, Ray (Matt Riedy), Walt (Ray McKinnon) and Donny (Bruce McKinnon). Generations of resentment runs deep and they have no problem blowing away a cousin for saying the wrong thing, or gifting a niece with a poisonous snake. It's all a means to a violent end.

Lucas (Billy Magnussen) wants out of the family business. He's just gotten engaged to his love, Emma (Alexandra Shipp), and is leaving town with her, to start clean somewhere else. She's far above his station and he can't believe his luck; he adores her. Lucas' father, Ray, is in prison for drug dealing. He tells his father that he's going to be relocating with his fiance', and his father spits in his face with anger. Lucas' older half-brother, Tuck (Nick Stahl), is down on his luck and is having money trouble. Tuck is married, with a young daughter. Both Tuck and his wife really like Emma. Lucas's mother, Darlene (Kate Burton) is the town's sheriff, and has been cleaning up the family issues her entire life. She's desperately trying to push her sons, especially Lucas, to not end up like the senior male family members.

However, in Violent Ends, none of the Frosts are able to escape their fates or elude their violent nature. And when things go wrong, Frost family weapons explode, painting the run-down town with buckets of blood.

Magnussen carries the film so well. Every scene feels authentic. What I found a little distracting, initially, was Lucas's wardrobe. He wore the same ripped jeans the entire film. Yet afterward, I could see how these wardrobe choices help viewers understand that everything happened in a very compressed amount of time, possibly 48 hours, since he never changed his pants.

You'll also appreciate the casting of iconic faces you'll recognize from streaming or movies, even if you don't know their names. Jared Bankens, who plays Walt's son, looks so much like a younger Ray McKinnon, it's freaky! Loved the score, it really helped to underline the emotion and move the action along.

The film is extremely violent, and following the familial relationships was a little tricky - I had to create a family tree to keep it straight. And I was not prepared for the final twist! Tightly written and directed by John-Michael Powell, it's just been released in theaters. Violent Ends deserves to find its audience.

A war breaks out between two sides of a drug cartel family after the fiancé of a peace-seeking member is murdered by the other side.

This thriller tragedy starts slow and ends with a bang. The story is a cross between Romeo and Juliet and Scarface, which is self-explanatory. There is some action, but it's the thrills, suspense, and twists that make the movie truly captivating. The one hour and fifty-two-minute runtime is longer than necessary to tell this story, resulting in parts that are slow-paced. For a unique story, this is a solid tragedy to watch, either in your local theater or when it becomes available on a streaming service.

Very good atmosphere, fantastic acting, great cinematography and good editing.

I was not expecting much from this movie but it surprised the hell out of me.

Violent, rugged, raw, shocking and moving all at the same time. If you want a well made crime movie that is very heavy and atmospheric give this movie a try.

It pulled me in right from the very start and didn't let go. Also has very well written dialogue to that will pull you in.

If you like 90's Oozarks movies with realistic acting of the savage, cutthroat peoples of these places, then you will like this movie. Where families rule, and not the Law. Similar to Winter's Bone.

While Billy Magnussen gives a solid performance (much more serious than hes used to), its James Badge Dale that stands out. His Oscar worthy performance of charisma and intimidation will make you forget he was "dressed to invade Poland" in The Departed. He sure has come a long way since then. And while his performance will no doubt be overlooked, Im really glad I got to see it. Havent seen a performance like that from a newer movie in quite some time. I truely felt fear while his character was on the screen, and thats so rare for me while watching a movie.

The directing was great too Its shot really well, which is what made me want to watch it in the first place. It's a tad predictable, but I didn't mind. I loved the subtle foreshadowing throughout the movie as well.

While Violent Ends does feel like its missing that special something to make it truly stand out, its a very solid movie, and I highly recommend it if you like these types of movies. For General Audiences and todays ADHD kids.... not so much.

I'm very glad I watched it. Years ago, I wouldve rated this a solid 7.5/10, but in terms of todays awful movies, Ima bump it up to a 9/10.

The scenes, the filming, and the story are all excellent. The acting is also flawless. Billy Magnussen's acting is excellent. The film's music perfectly complements the scenes. The composer didn't overdo it. You feel the tension at every moment. There's no exaggeration in the film. Everything feels real. I gave the film an 8. I recommend watching it.