I’m a fan of Gary Daniels. I’ve been watching his films
since his early output when video was still around through the current films
he’s made in the past few years. I have always been surprised that he hasn’t
become a bigger star than he is. A featured actor in many direct to DVD
productions his acting has progressed to far better than the roles he gets. He
still handles himself exceptionally well in fight scenes. So why doesn’t
someone use him in a big production?
In this film he stars as Bradley, a hit man working for The
Executive (Eric Roberts). His current assignment is to retrieve a disc of
information from a crime boss named Vogel (Mickey Rourke). Vogel offers to pay
him off but Bradley has some principles and instead takes off with the disc and
thumb drive. Along the way he takes on Vogel’s henchmen, eventually shooting
one as the doors to the elevator open. Unfortunately behind that man was
Vogel’s pregnant daughter who was killed as the bullet went through them both.
Fast forward months later. Bradly has been in hiding from
Vogel, trying to keep a low profile. He lives in a bad neighborhood in London
and watches as low level criminals assert themselves on the locals. When a
brutal pimp continues to beat up on one of his girls, Bradley has had enough.
He goes to visit the pimp in his brothel and discovers most of the girls have
been abducted and hooked on heroin. A raging battle between Bradley and
numerous henchmen follows and he sets the girls free.
But one tags along with him. She’s intent on finding her
lost sister, another girl who once worked for the pimp. Sent elsewhere she’s
trying to find her and asks Bradley for his help. He chooses to do so and
contacts The Executive to get assistance in finding the girl. But there will be
consequences in dealing with the devil. Another job, another performance of
some act without knowing exactly the reason for it. As Bradley moves deeper
into the world of The Executive he finds out more than he bargained for. Will
he find the girl? Will he confront The Executive? Or will Vogel find Bradley
and enact his revenge on him for the death of his daughter?
Action fans will delight in this film. The
well-choreographed and shot sequences run from near the beginning of the film until
the end. Little time is wasted on dialogue of story set ups but they are there.
Instead the makers of this film knew they wanted to make it an all action
slugfest and the results are all on screen for action fans to enjoy.
The fact that amid all of that action Daniels can carry off
any amount of acting is an accomplishment in itself. He does indeed do so
making the character of Bradley a sympathetic one. He’s a man whose done wrong,
killed many and will more than likely kill again. But he changes from a killer
who didn’t consider the consequences of his actions to one who does so less
willingly.
While Roberts turns in a decent performance here as does
Jeff Fahey, another direct to DVD star who deserves better, there are two
performers completely wasted. Michael Madsen and Daryl Hannah play two of the
top leaders in the human trafficking scheme though why they appear and how they
are used feels forced, as if the film makers wanted to put them in there for
name value only. Their scenes could have been omitted with no lost to the end
product.
Daniels fans will find a movie to delight in and action fans
will be pleased with this release. If you can’t find your movie of choice on
hand and this one is there, give it a chance.
Click here to order.
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