‘The world’s last defense’
Interceptor is a 2022 American action thriller set on a sea-based nuclear missile base which is attacked by terrorists.
Directed by Matthew Reilly from a screenplay co-written with Stuart Beattie. Produced by Beattie, Michael Boughen and Reilly.
The movie stars Elsa Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane, Mayen Mehta, Rhys Muldoon, Belinda Jombwe, Marcus Johnson, Colin Friels, and Zoe Carides.
Director and co-writer Matthew Reilly told Variety he’s already written a sequel to his ‘gonzo’ action thriller due to its massive no.1 steaming success on Netflix.
Plot:
Tough and reality-bruised Captain JJ Collins (Elsa Pataky) finds herself in charge of a lone nuclear missile interceptor base in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after she is wrongfully drummed out of her dream job at the Pentagon.
When a simultaneous coordinated attack then threatens the base itself, Collins comes face-to-face with the charismatic yet crooked Alexander Kessel (Luke Bracey), a former US military intelligence officer intent on carrying out an unthinkable plan.
With only minutes on the clock, Collins must utilize her years of tactical training and military expertise to determine who she can trust and stop Kessel and his covert mercenaries from completing their twisted and terrible mission…
Our review:
While some of the fight scenes are kinda intense, this is a mostly clichéd rote action flick that rarely rises to the occasion. The dialogue feels unnatural with lines such as: “you think I’m a monster” and is often stilted and clichéd beyond belief. There are constant exposition dumps and prove-a-point little speeches.
Despite some dodgy acting from a few of the cast, Elsa Pataky performs well and her character is certainly put-upon (to put it mildly) which will increase audience empathy. Meanwhile, “patriot” Beaver – with his hilarious ‘tache and ‘haircut’ – is a little too real considering how some Americans gleefully ignore the freedoms enshrined in the US Constitution in the name of their own warped ideology.
Yet, all of Interceptor‘s silliness is somehow not enough to make Interceptor a recommendation unless you’re in the mood for really brainless retro style entertainment. It’s like a bigger budget flick from The Asylum so may raise a few unintended smiles if nothing else. There are some silly cameo scenes that are worth a laugh, at least.
Adrian J Smith, MOVIES and MANIA
Other reviews:
“Pataky certainly looks the part, and there are moments of inspired bodily destruction in “Interceptor,” which is just frenzied enough to supply an entertaining sit. It’s not a major submission of screen power, but co-writer/director Matthew Reilly has his moments with this B-movie viewing experience.” 3/5 Blu-ray.com
“Overall, Interceptor belongs in the 90s but not in the pile of 90s action that makes you nostalgic. Instead, Interceptor is all of the worst things about 90s action. Its story is an incoherent attempt at storytelling and the action itself is anywhere it needs to be to make it a solid popcorn flick.” A Cine TV
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