MovieChat Forums > I Am Wrath (2016) Discussion > Not a bad Death Wish knockoff

Not a bad Death Wish knockoff

posted 5 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8289)
2 replies | jump to latest

It's not going to satisfy the crowd that wants every movie to be an Oscar winner, but it's an above-average effort for a direct-to-video action film.

The story is predictable and there are few surprises, but it's done well enough and Travolta here looks surprisingly virile and energetic despite being in his 60s. Also, Christopher Meloni adds a lot of entertainment value as Travolta's friend and co-conspirator.

If you're like me and have a soft spot for DTV action films then you can definitely do worse than this one.

[–] ModernDayWarrior (114) 5 years ago

Yeah it's surprisingly really good. I bought it expecting a laugh due to awful cover but I seen Meloni, DeMornay were in it, and Russell directed it so I was cautiously optimistic.. ended up having one of the best first watches of the year. So damn fun is this movie..

It's really goofy in some ways and in some spots but it's a fun ride from start to finish. It ends up becoming a buddy viglante film which never happeens and it makes for a nice twist. John and Chris had a great chemistry and it seems like they knew each other for ages. The baddies are servicable which is enough to make the movie work, the main thug with the fly tat on his face is so damn goofy it makes me LMAO but it works as you want to see him get destroyed. The corruption twist was a nice twist and the movie ends good so it's not bad at all.

I do kinda wish Meloni was in the lead with John as the buddy it coulda worked more honestly. Chris is younger and could do the stunts better, and I see John doing the buddy role better. But it's not like the movie fails at all so it worked out. Def one of the better Death Wish ripoffs.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 5 years ago

Cool, man. Glad to hear you liked it.

Good call on it being a "buddy vigilante film." I guess you're right, that's a new twist on an old trope. Meloni certainly did a great job and added a lot of entertainment value to what very well could've ended up just another rote, uninspired DTV film.

I just looked and noticed that the director also made The Scorpion King. That's interesting. I just rewatched SK recently and had a lot of fun with it. It's an enjoyable, light-hearted adventure film. Now that I really look at his filmography and see the high-profile films he's made, I wonder why it took him 14 years to direct another movie. And then when he did it was a DTV movie.

BTW, you may have already seen it, but if you enjoy Death Wish knockoffs then I would also recommend checking out Peppermint with Jennifer Garner. It was also a solid take on the sub-genre.