I AM VENGEANCE

Film Review by FIORE

Remember WWE super villain Wade Barrett, originator of the Barrett Barrage?  He’s back. Not with WWE, but in movies, staking a legitimate claim as a top box office action star.  He is now using his real name, Stu Bennett and in I AM VENGEANCE he fills in many of the gaps missing from most action stars today.  He has a code of honor, a sense of justice and all of the training necessary to ensure people who cross those boundaries pay dearly.  I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

I AM VENGEANCE opens with a manhunt.  Sgt. Danny Mason (Kevin Leslie)  is pursued through a wooded area by masked mercenaries.  Outgunned and outnumbered, he is caught, and brutally murdered.  Enter John Gold (Bennett).  He served with Mason and comes into the town of Devotion to investigate and seek vengeance for his murder. 

It’s not long before Gold discovers the town is ruled by a cabal of ex-special forces agents, who secure their retirement funds by taking over the local drug trade.  They are led by Hatcher (Gary Daniels) and his main henchmen Frost (Mark Griffin) and Marshall (Bryan Larkin).  It takes until the final reels, but each has a dramatic showdown with Gold.  The fight scenes are choreographed by Andrei Nazarenko and are staged realistically and shot so that the stars can display their fighting acumen. 

To bring things to conclusion, Gold enlists the help of Sandra (Anna Shaffer), one of the town’s junkies, and her supplier Keith (Sebastian Knapp).  Because they are usually strung out on heroin, Gold really can’t trust them, and treats them with the same distain as he does Hatcher.  Sapphire Elia plays Rose, owner of the local diner and a romantic interest for Gold.

Written and directed by Ross Boyask, I AM VENGEANCE  follows a proven template for action films and action heroes.  Lots of violence, to prove a point; something sorely missing from modern action films, save for JOHN WICK.  Ross Boyask cuts the film to a perfect ninety minutes and paces it well with drama and action.  Because these stars, and their respective stuntmen, can actually perform the fight moves, Director of Photography Simon Rowling does not need to use close-ups and can hold the camera on a medium or set shot, showing all the action.

I really enjoyed I AM VENGEANCE.  It harkens back to the days of the Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steven Seagal action classics.  The John Gold character is one Bennett plays well, and hopefully this will springboard for him into a franchise.

I AM VENGEANCE is currently in selected theatres and will come to VOD and home video soon.