Dead Man Down

They say that revenge is a dark and lonely road. It’s something that consumes a person absolutely. Just ask gang member Victor (Colin Farrell) who has spent years plotting and scheming his plan of revenge against the people who hurt him most. On the verge of accomplishing his mission, he encounters a woman who shares in the same passion for revenge. Turns out it’s not so lonely a road after all.

Dead Man Down is a thriller where everyone has a dark secret and nothing is what it seems. It also manages to insert a strange yet beautiful romance between all the revenge going on with the main leads. It’s never fully feels sure of itself and the direction it will take. Whenever you think you know what’s going on in the film, it takes a dramatic turn towards something else. On the plus side, it’ll basically keep you guessing until towards the end when it all comes together.

While Victor is out for revenge on those who tore his family apart, he soon crosses paths with his friendly neighbor Beatrice (Noomi Rapace). She is after someone who has scarred her for life, literally, and believes Victor’s gang affiliation can assist her. It starts out as just some job but soon flourishes into something much more. It’s not your average relationship you see on film but works, albeit with a few awkward scenes.

What makes the film truly work is the dynamic between Victor and his kingpin boss Alphonse (Terrence Howard). Howard is cold and conniving, a ruthless criminal at heart. He’s crafty, but not so crafty to figure Victor out. It’s a game of cat and mouse with the audience not quite sure who’s the cat and who’s the mouse.

Despite not having the etchings of a blockbuster thriller, Dead Man Down delivers an enjoyable experience nonetheless. It may be a little confusing at times, and it wraps up a little too neatly, but at its core is a decent tale of vengeance.