Deadlock is a 2021 action thriller about mercenaries that seize an energy plant and hold everyone hostage.
Directed by Jared Cohn (Swim; Shark Season; Fast and Fierce: Death Race; Alien Predator; Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill!; Devil’s Domain; Hold Your Breath) from a screenplay co-written with Cam Cannon. Produced by Jon Keeyes, Corey Large and Johnny Messner.
The movie stars Bruce Willis (Apex; Midnight in the Switchgrass; Out of Death; Hard Kill; Cosmic Sin; Breach; Die Hard franchise), Patrick Muldoon, Matthew Marsden, Lorenzo Antonucci and Jared Bankens.
Plot:
Ron Whitlock (Bruce Willis) is a wanted criminal leading a team of mercenaries on a mission of vengeance. Convinced that the government is working against them, the merciless group brutally seizes an energy plant and holds everyone inside hostage.
With a nearby town on the brink of massive flooding and destruction, it’s up to retired elite army ranger Mack Karr (Patrick Muldoon) to save thousands of innocent lives before it’s too late…
Reviews:
“My biggest gripe is how awful the gun effects are. I know we might see more and more CG gun effects in the future, but at least make them look almost-kinda-sorta real […] Honestly, Deadlock might be more entertaining than A Good Day to Die Hard […] I’m not saying Deadlock is a good or even above-average action movie, but damn I can’t believe I found it watchable.” Bulletproof Action
” …while Muldoon plays scruffy hero Mack with a blast of energy and a cheeky attitude, Willis’ performance is far too static. He looks vaguely annoyed all the time and is mostly in an immobile sitting position. It all becomes a dull waiting game that’s accompanied by a repetitive, obtrusive score as viewers hope that Mack will eventually find the right door and put a stop to all of this.” Common Sense Media
“Perhaps the biggest thorn in the movie’s side is its usage of stock footage of flooding […] The novelty of Willis taking on the Rickman role from his most iconic movie isn’t lost on me, but it’s lost on Deadlock, which, while mostly competent on a technical level, doesn’t create a foil to its decent baddie and can’t deliver the action or scale required to send the movie all the way.” The Radiobox
“The action scenes are plentiful […] But they’re directed so poorly there’s no excitement to them. And that’s on top of the script’s total disregard for reality […] It’s too bad because the idea of a Die Hard rip-off with Willis as the villain is a pretty neat idea. It’s at least as creative as anything else he’s done in the past few years. Unfortunately, his performance is on par with the rest of the film…” Voices from the Balcony
Release:
In the US, Saban Films released Deadlock theatrically, on digital and on VOD on December 3, 2021.
Technical details:
96 minutes
Trailer:
Clip:
