Shadow Force

"Shadow Force" wasn't a film I was looking forward to. I won't deny it stood a chance of being good, but I didn't hold my breath. My expectations led me to believe it had a high chance of being a throwaway action flick. However, after seeing it, I'm shocked yet happy to admit I was wrong.

Let me start with the acting. It's solid across the board, although Omar Sy's work as Isaac Sarr wildly impressed me. The rest of the cast - including Kerry Washington, Mark Strong, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph - were entertaining, but Sy will be what I'll remember from the entire experience.

Next, I'm surprised at how invested I got into this narrative. By no means perfect, Joe Carnahan and Leon Chills's screenplay contained many solid emotional moments, especially relating to the meaning of family. Carnahan's directing also helps enhance the dramatic moments and the rest of the film's strengths.

Outside of Sy, another strong attribute is Juan Miguel Azpiroz's better than it had any right to be cinematography. From the trailer, I had one thought: the cinematography will be the best thing about this movie. While Sy takes that crown, I appreciate how creative and stunning the cinematography was.

For the remaining positives, an action scene toward the middle was exceedingly entertaining (the rest of the action wasn't half bad either), and the final act was enjoyable.

Unfortunately, there are a few things holding this film back - not enough to justify the at-the-time 32% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. I'm on the side of the 82% audience score here.

My main issue is its pacing. The narrative was intriguing, but there were many moments that felt slow, and although some of its slow-burn is to develop the core family more, I couldn't help but desire more exciting stuff. It's nothing against the movie, but it's worth mentioning.

There are two more issues; the first is not a bother, but it's something you should know. It's nothing new. I expected it to be generic, and (outside of its surprising focus on the family dynamic) it was. I'm okay with generic films as long as they don't overstay their welcome, and this one (mostly) didn't.

One last thing, and I'll be vague to avoid spoilers. A character makes a decision that makes no sense, given their motivation. It would have removed one of the movie's best parts, making it a necessary annoyance. Still.

It's over-hated because although it's nothing special, "Shadow Force" provides enough entertainment to make it worth watching. Even if it doesn't get my highest recommendation, I never would've expected to praise it as highly as I did.

The acting, directing, screenplay, and cinematography make for a 9/10 technical score.

For the enjoyment score, it definitely won't be anybody's favorite movie by summer's end, but for what it is, it subverted my expectations! For me, the enjoyment score is an 8/10. It's a fun ride in theaters, although if you have your priorities for the summer movie season elsewhere, I don't blame you. Nonetheless, you should consider finding time to see it!

Revised Critique:

"This film is a staggering disappointment-a haphazard collage of clichés with no discernible vision or originality. From its wooden, over-the-top performances to its lifeless, predictable plot, it reeks of amateurish execution, more akin to a rough draft than a finished product. The story plods along with zero tension or surprises, anchored by dialogue so stilted it borders on self-parody. What a waste of Sy's talent, shackled here to a script devoid of depth or nuance!

Even the antagonist feels lifted from a 1980s Saturday morning cartoon-complete with bald man twirling theatrics and a script so hackneyed you half-expect him to growl "Well, well, well..." before monologuing about worldly revenge. The gratuitous multilingual flourishes add nothing but confusion, further exposing the film's tonal inconsistency.

Releasing this alongside Thunderbolts * (Marvel's New Avengers ) only magnifies its flaws all the way to its PR.

Every element-from the clunky direction to the shockingly inept pacing-screams of a rushed, passionless production. It's a Frankenstein's monster of studio notes and market-driven cynicism, lacking even the charm of a so-bad-it's-good flick.

Some films stumble; this one faceplants. A masterclass in how not to make a movie-shallow, tedious, and utterly forgettable." When its sucks... its sucks.

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This movie has a good premise, a very good and capable cast, and even had a decent script. However, the directing was absolutely terrible, making many B movies look Oscar-worthy. It took forever to get going. In fact, it was so slow getting going that I nodded off - twice - during the first half hour. A perfect example of a production suffering from a writer who should stick to writing and leave the directing to someone else. Kerry Washington is good and even believable as an action star, with moments of Olivia Pope shining through. Da'vine was a great surprise, too.

My suggestion is wait to watch it when it starts streaming - for free.

Shadow Force (2025), directed by Joe Carnahan, sets out to deliver a high-stakes action thriller about an estranged couple fighting for their lives and protecting their son from a deadly shadow ops unit. With a cast led by Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, and Mark Strong, the film has all the ingredients for a slick, adrenaline-pumping experience. But unfortunately, it never quite rises above mediocrity.

The storyline feels too familiar-an on-the-run plot with a bounty twist that lacks emotional complexity or originality. The direction is competent but uninspired, and the performances, while watchable, match the overall tone of the film: average. Washington and Sy try to bring depth to their roles, but the writing leaves little room for character exploration or chemistry.

What Shadow Force does get right are some of its action sequences. A few stunts stand out and are executed with precision, offering brief moments of excitement. However, even these feel like they're stitched together in a formulaic rhythm, more focused on spectacle than stakes.

At just 1 hour and 44 minutes, the film moves briskly, which helps keep it from dragging, but by the end, it leaves little impact. It's an easy watch for fans of fast-paced action, but it won't linger long after the credits roll.

Rating: 6/10 A passable action flick with a few bright moments, but lacking the heart and depth needed to stand out.

Wow. This is bad. This is really, really bad.

Writing? Bad. Acting? Really bad.

This... movie...has reduced my ability to form complete sentences.

Did I mention this movie is really bad?

Maybe waterboarding is worse? Or an IRS tax audit?

But wait, maybe there's a silver lining. If 60 MILLION dollars can be wasted on a (say it with me, church) really bad movie, maybe I can have a career in Hollywood.

I can't act. But apparently, neither can Kerry Washington.

I didn't notice how bad an actor she was before now. Mainly because she was surrounded by more talented actors in her other projects.

Please don't see this movie.