This one was certainly a charismatic thriller directed by Dean Devlin who also directed last year’s “Geostorm.” The cast is headlined by the always capable David Tennant. And this was not a perfect movie by any means, but it does have some merit to earn a 70% on my entertainment meter. The story is centered on these two guys who work as valets at a fancy Portland restaurant. But they also burglarize the homes of the patrons while they are eating. A nice side business that goes horribly wrong when they break into a man’s home and find a woman being held captive.
Like I said this wasn’t a perfect film, but it didn’t necessarily need to be. The premise alone is enough to build some genuine tension as these two characters get into a dangerous situation with this cunning psychopath played excellently by David Tennant. It routinely had me on edge. It brought up natural feelings of uneasiness. And with some authentic unpredictability tossed in as well it resulted in an effective thriller with well-crafted suspense. It does follow some tropes we have seen done before, but also changes up the path just a bit to create true suspense.
It also does get a little theatrical at times with the dialogue and performances. But at the same time, it could also be chalked up to giving the movie some energy, and a touch of self-awareness that actually give the story a splash of charm. It doesn’t try too hard create unneeded twists and turns. It keeps the subplots to a minimum, and it keeps the pace moving nicely which kept me interested in where things would go for the main characters. It was a game of cat-and-mouse and Tennant’s unpredictability and pure insanity created a capability that made the ending hard to predict.
It weaves in just enough twists and turns that definitely kept me intrigued. And as the layers of the mystery behind who this sinister man is reveal themselves, it really allows the personality of Tennant to shine which is the most redeeming quality of the movie overall. The cast performances were well done. The direction is solid, and gives the story a nice creepy atmosphere that complements the plot-line perfectly. If you enjoy thrillers, with vibrant characters and tons of personality I recommend this one. If not simply for the performance of David Tennant alone.
