Retribution is a 2023 action thriller starring Liam Neeson as Matt Turner, a banker who is trapped in his car with a bomb and his two children. He has to follow the instructions of a mysterious voice on the phone, who turns out to be his colleague Anders, who wants to steal money from their company. The movie is a remake of the 2015 Spanish film El desconocido.
Materials
To enjoy this movie, you will need:
- A love for Liam Neeson and action action action!!
- A suspension of disbelief and a tolerance for cliches
- A popcorn and a drink
Steps
- Watch the movie and pay attention to the great camera work inside the car, which creates a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere.
- Appreciate the small and well placed twists, such as Anders faking his death and Matt’s wife being involved in the scheme.
- Admire the child labour, I mean child actors, who were great and showed the fear of being in a life-threatening situation.
- Notice the public setting and access to utilities, which add realism and complexity to the plot.
- Laugh at the perfect joke about the German transportation system, which is a rare moment of humor in this otherwise serious movie.
Warnings
- Do not expect a deep or original story, as this movie is full of tropes and stereotypes, such as the workaholic father, the disgruntled employee, the dark web bomb, etc.
- Do not get annoyed by the divorce side story, which is unnecessary and distracting from the main action.
- Do not question why Matt did not involve his son, who could have helped him with his hacking skills, or why Anders did not just kill Matt and take the money himself.
Conclusion
Retribution is a fast-paced and entertaining movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is not a masterpiece of cinema, but it is a fun ride that will make you forget your troubles for an hour and a half. If you like Liam Neeson and explosions, you will like this movie.
7/10