"Offender" is a failed attempt to attract audiences with a mix of drama and thrill within the prison walls. The film tries to present the story of a young man, Tommy Nix, who deliberately gets himself imprisoned to exact revenge on a group of criminals who harmed his pregnant girlfriend. Unfortunately, the screenplay fails to deliver a convincing story or relatable characters.
One of the biggest flaws in "Offender" is the lackluster acting. The film's lead, Joe Cole, gives an unconvincing and uninspired performance, making it difficult for the audience to empathize with his plight. Additionally, the other characters are shallow and underdeveloped, especially the actor who played the main villain, English Frank. His performance is one of the worst I've ever seen. He attempted to portray a psychopathic criminal who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, with anyone, but he failed miserably in his role. This failure prevented feelings of anxiety and fear from reaching the audience, undermining the credibility of the events and leaving gaps in the story without sufficient explanation or justification.
The direction suffers from a clear lack of innovation and creativity. The violent scenes, which are supposed to be thrilling and impactful, come off as exaggerated and devoid of realism. The excessive reliance on violent scenes strips the film of its message, making it seem like a superficial experience rather than providing a deep social analysis of the prison environment, which the film attempted but failed to deliver.
The screenplay is full of plot holes and predictable scenes, causing the film to lose elements of surprise and excitement. The dialogues are unrealistic, clichéd, and childish, adding to the overall frustration with the film. Additionally, the soundtrack is often inappropriate, exacerbating the film's shortcomings.
Overall, "Offender" fails to achieve any of the goals one might expect from a gritty prison drama. It is a film that lacks depth and innovation, leaving viewers feeling they have wasted their time watching an ill-constructed story with unconvincing performances.
My Rating is 5 out of 10
Note: If you have free time, look for a better experience unless you want to waste your time. Sleeping is better than watching this film.
