Guns Akimbo is a 2019 science fiction action film in which a guy has to rely on his new gladiator skills to save his ex-girlfriend from kidnappers.
Written and directed by Jason Lei Howden (Deathgasm), the movie stars Daniel Radcliffe (The Woman in Black), Samara Weaving (Ready or Not), Ned Dennehy and Rhys Darby.
In the near future, Miles (Daniel Radcliffe) is stuck in a dead-end job, still in love with his ex-girlfriend Nova (Natasha Liu Bordizzo).
Unbeknownst to him, a gang called Skizm is running a deadly competition within his city in which complete strangers fight to the death for the entertainment of an online audience of millions. Miles soon finds himself caught up in the game and forced to fight in a battle to the death.
Reviews [click on links to read more]:
“One could make the style over substance argument and Guns Akimbo certainly isn’t for everyone, but personally, I can’t say no to an expertly crafted thrill that’ll electrify a midnight crowd, encouraging viewers to believe in and rooting for an unlikely hero. Howden is the real deal and it’s only a matter of time before more take notice.” Collider
“Many directors try to make insane action comedies, but few have the chops to make them good, and even fewer can make something that actually takes a step forward […] It’s all-out, totally insane, uber-violent, wildly hilarious, unbelievable action movie fun.” First Showing
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” …the camera work in some of the scenes was a little chaotic and gave me a headache. That and I feel like the movie is trying to get a message across about the evils of social media, that is lost in the insane gunfights and one-liners. Still, a very good time that I would honestly recommend if you are looking for a fun movie that doesn’t require a lot of thinking.” HNN
“Indications here are that Howden, whose roots are in visual effects, understands that garish colors, bullet-time and an insanely mobile camera (seriously: some sequences cartwheel in ways you probably haven’t seen) aren’t all you need to make a movie. Here’s hoping he gets another shot at getting the balance right.” The Hollywood Reporter
“The film stops to catch its breath a couple of times […] But they are brief detours, with the pace rarely letting up, which is sometimes to the film’s detriment, most notably during its drawn-out climax.” IGN
“Howden does pick up on some of the sly humor of someone like Verhoeven, yet he undercuts that same comedy by indulging in the very pleasures it tries to criticize and satirize. This lack of self-awareness weighs on Guns Akimbo, which wants to be so much more than just another installment of video game-style action brought to life.” Slash Film
“Those wanting to kiss a few brain cells goodbye may enjoy this bombastic, crassly jokey action cartoon […] Anyone with an attention span above ADD levels, however, is likely to find this undeniably slick, energetic contraption plays somewhere between grating and numbing.” Variety
“There’s nothing wrong with the occasional camera trickery, but the constant use of it is dull. Even when Guns Akimbo gets on the right track Howden manages to derail. Take the hammer fight near the end of the film. It starts out as a well-choreographed and bloody brawl. Then halfway through turns into a silly, CGI laden beat down scored to Rick James’ Superfreak.” Voices from the Balcony
Cast and characters:
- Daniel Radcliffe … Miles
- Samara Weaving … Nix
- Ned Dennehy … Riktor
- Rhys Darby … Homeless Addict
- Natasha Liu Bordizzo … Nova
- Hanako Footman … Ruby
- Mark Rowley … Dane
- Colin Moy … Clive
- Jacqueline Lee Geurts … Irene Degreaves
- Bella Padden … Young Nix
- Set Sjöstrand … Fuckface
- Jack Riddiford … Shadwell
- Ken Thomas … Police Chief
- J. David Hinze … CNN Anchor
- Racheal Ofori … Effie
