Saw AVENGEMENT (2019) last night at a theatre in Santa Monica. Still thinking about it today, standing on its own as well as in comparison with THE DEBT COLLECTOR (2018), both directed by Jesse V. Johnson and both starring Scott Adkins.
AVENGEMENT might be an odd-sounding title for American ears--it refers to the act of taking vengeance. But this is a first-rate action flick, with some terrific fight sequences, a gathering of excellent actors, and impressive production values, including striking cinematography and an array of U.K. locations--although the bulk of the story takes place in an English pub called the Horse & Jockey. The storyline is a little fuzzy--meaning it's slightly confusing in places and arguably not as involving as DEBT COLLECTOR--but aside from that it is high-quality, high-value moviemaking, exceptionally well-directed and cut together. Johnson has been shooting action pics since 1999, and he knows what he's doing. He's something of a renaissance man. Take a look at his IMDb page. He's got a ton of credits as a stunt performer and coordinator--he comes from a family of stunt people--and dozens more in art departments as production designer, art director, and set dresser. Beyond that, he's got a genuine feel for this kind of material and how best to convey its impacts.
The British cast is top notch through and through, down to the smallest parts. Standouts are Craig Fairbrass, Nick Moran, Ross O'Hennessey and Kierston Wareing, but everyone involved, from first to last, turns in fine work. Louis Mandylor isn't British--he was born in Australia--but he's playing a British detective, and he's perfect. He's a fighter in DEBT COLLECTOR and can deliver strong stuff in stunts, but in AVENGEMENT, he's not a part of the combat and doesn't make his entrance until about halfway through. Nevertheless, his character is indelible. Mandylor is a real pleasure on screen. He's become one of the best character actors around. And he's incredibly good in DEBT COLLECTOR, where his acting chops as well as his fighting skills are on full display.
Adkins is remarkable in AVENGEMENT. In general, he's a better actor than most action leads, but in this one his character arc--from more-or-less innocent bystander who doesn't want to get involved with street gangs to a ferocious, unstoppable revenge machine--is mesmerizing. The perpetual snarl, wild-eyed glare and vivid scars that dominate his presence at the end of a punishing downfall stabs right through the viewer's eyeballs and stays lodged in the memory banks.
THE DEBT COLLECTOR, set in Los Angeles, is the stronger of the two movies in the story department. The plot is more engaging and the development of the two lead characters (Mandylor and Adkins) is a little more satisfying, especially by the end. The action scenes are equally good in both movies, which isn't surprising given Johnson's talents. The production values in COLLECTOR are equivalent to AVENGEMENT. The only thing that brings COLLECTOR down a slight notch is the day-player cast. All of the actors named in the opening titles turn in good work, but some of the smaller roles--names that appear in the cast list at the end credits--don't come off as well. They're not as three-dimensional as those powerhouse British actors.
Both movies offer hard-driving, bone-crunching action with memorable characters in a colorful setting. AVENGEMENT gets a 9.5 out of 10. THE DEBT COLLECTOR gets the same, 9.5 out of 10.
AVENGEMENT might be an odd-sounding title for American ears--it refers to the act of taking vengeance. But this is a first-rate action flick, with some terrific fight sequences, a gathering of excellent actors, and impressive production values, including striking cinematography and an array of U.K. locations--although the bulk of the story takes place in an English pub called the Horse & Jockey. The storyline is a little fuzzy--meaning it's slightly confusing in places and arguably not as involving as DEBT COLLECTOR--but aside from that it is high-quality, high-value moviemaking, exceptionally well-directed and cut together. Johnson has been shooting action pics since 1999, and he knows what he's doing. He's something of a renaissance man. Take a look at his IMDb page. He's got a ton of credits as a stunt performer and coordinator--he comes from a family of stunt people--and dozens more in art departments as production designer, art director, and set dresser. Beyond that, he's got a genuine feel for this kind of material and how best to convey its impacts.
The British cast is top notch through and through, down to the smallest parts. Standouts are Craig Fairbrass, Nick Moran, Ross O'Hennessey and Kierston Wareing, but everyone involved, from first to last, turns in fine work. Louis Mandylor isn't British--he was born in Australia--but he's playing a British detective, and he's perfect. He's a fighter in DEBT COLLECTOR and can deliver strong stuff in stunts, but in AVENGEMENT, he's not a part of the combat and doesn't make his entrance until about halfway through. Nevertheless, his character is indelible. Mandylor is a real pleasure on screen. He's become one of the best character actors around. And he's incredibly good in DEBT COLLECTOR, where his acting chops as well as his fighting skills are on full display.
Adkins is remarkable in AVENGEMENT. In general, he's a better actor than most action leads, but in this one his character arc--from more-or-less innocent bystander who doesn't want to get involved with street gangs to a ferocious, unstoppable revenge machine--is mesmerizing. The perpetual snarl, wild-eyed glare and vivid scars that dominate his presence at the end of a punishing downfall stabs right through the viewer's eyeballs and stays lodged in the memory banks.
THE DEBT COLLECTOR, set in Los Angeles, is the stronger of the two movies in the story department. The plot is more engaging and the development of the two lead characters (Mandylor and Adkins) is a little more satisfying, especially by the end. The action scenes are equally good in both movies, which isn't surprising given Johnson's talents. The production values in COLLECTOR are equivalent to AVENGEMENT. The only thing that brings COLLECTOR down a slight notch is the day-player cast. All of the actors named in the opening titles turn in good work, but some of the smaller roles--names that appear in the cast list at the end credits--don't come off as well. They're not as three-dimensional as those powerhouse British actors.
Both movies offer hard-driving, bone-crunching action with memorable characters in a colorful setting. AVENGEMENT gets a 9.5 out of 10. THE DEBT COLLECTOR gets the same, 9.5 out of 10.