Echo Effect

Micheal Jai White is one of the top direct-to-video action stars thanks to films like Undisputed II and Blood and Bone. His great martial arts skills are always complemented by his good acting. So how and why he got wrapped up in this amateur production is beyond me. Seriously, this flick is so flat and displays all of the style of something you would see on Hallmark or Lifetime. Even worse, director Kevin Carraway has very little insight on how to properly film and edit a fight scene (look for one shot where you can see the safety mat on the ground). Not allowing White to show case his abilities is just downright criminal. Add in a perfunctory plot and Steve Austin doing his best not to look off camera to spot a bank to cash his check and you have one of White's worst films in years. I understand he has to work, but I just wish it was with better people. I have no doubt White's forthcoming Never Back Down 3 will correct this.

If I wasn't a Steve Austin fan I would have struggled to even give this film a score of 1, let alone 2.

The disappointment level of the movie is summed up by one shocking omission by the editing department where we see a guy clearly landing on a crash mat during a fight scene. Poor acting, unbelievably bad music that didn't match with the tone trying to be conveyed in each scene, and unnecessary use of sound effects all combined to successfully make my wife fall asleep.

(2015) Chain of Command/ Echo Effect ACTION THRILLER.

Co written and directed by Kevin Carraway that has James/ Jimmy Webster (Michael Jai White) celebrating his homecoming from duty with his older brother, Walter/ Walt Webster (Ken Early) and with friends. During this moment that should be a celebration, James notices his brother is having some problems while talking on his phone and tries to involve himself in his brother's affairs without success. On the following morning, he is then informed that his brother is dead. And after retrieving some of his brothers items, each one of his military friends either ends up murdered or discovered dead. And James goes on an investigation rant leaving him with the only clue of the name, Bill O'Brien (Carter Bratton). Meanwhile, a former special ops himself, Ray Peters (Steve Austin) going on a pursuit and is apparently part of a group of thugs/ syndicate involve in the shipping of narcotics from overseas. Part of a military ops group that also includes,supposedly one of Walt or Jimmy's friends, LT Bob Ross (Max Ryan) working for the main boss, Ted Bomber (Ken Strunk) all involved in the recovery of 40 million dollars that was stolen from them. Viewers also discover the man who did most of the murders that also includes James brother, Walt we find out is an agent, Hammond (Charles Page).

All this is, in terms of plot device is the less than equivalent of "Lethal Weapon" that involves special ops going rogue to start up their won criminal syndicate with the only difference is that it involves the recovery of millions of dollars. Upon watching this film sometimes appears that it was made on a whim. The investigator involve in the case of solving James murder is almost worthless or non existent.

Now - seeing Steve Austin I wasn't expecting top class acting, but was looking forward to a good action film.

What I wasn't expecting was the acting of the other people (Michael Jai White included) to be so pathetic that it actually made Steve Austin look good! Right from the off you could tell this is a low budget film, most of the supporting cast seem like they have been picked fresh from acting school (or the street!) and are just literally reading their lines rather than acting. For an action film I don't think anyone was actually told how to hold/fire a gun (Jai White was meant to be some kind of Special Ops soldier but his handling of a pistol didn't portray that!)

Overall a very poor film in every respect - action film with little action and such bad acting it was embarrassing!

...let me shine a light on some of the positive things about this movie. No, it's not great. Yes the acting is bad, yes the story is cliché. You can read everything. I just wanted to say I enjoyed the action. This movie promised action and it delivered. I don't turn on a film staring Steve Austin hoping for some Oscar winning performance. And although he doesn't really do anything in the movie, there is plenty of kicking and shooting to keep me entertained. Most low budget action movies promise a lot of big stuff and don't deliver. At least this movie delivered.