Bad Samaritan

A fairly technically competent snack with a likeable hero and a charismatic villain. But the author, Brandon Boyce, will certainly not compete in the Oscar for screenplay – the story really goes off the rails. (15.08.2018)

I enjoyed the story despite all its flaws. Its running time was a bit over the top, though. Way over the top. At first, I thought there wouldn’t be anyone to root for, because the pair of burglars were simply asking for having their kneecaps introduced to my fancy twenty-pound hammer, and the lead scumbag was doing all he could to have the very same tool crack open his skull. At least there was Katie so I could keep my fingers crossed for her. When weighing the pros and cons, I figured that what mattered the most was that I enjoyed the film, and I added a fourth star. (14.08.2020)

I had always categorized Dean Devlin as a director and screenwriter specializing in disaster-themed films, but I never expected him to fully dive into a thriller. When David Tennant appeared on screen, I sensed that significant things were about to unfold (it was immediately clear that he was going to play nothing other than a slippery psychopath—simply a fantastic performance). From that moment, the film gained substantial tension, which basically never let up until the end credits. But what prevents me from awarding it four stars? The actors met my expectations fully and delivered excellent performances in their roles. However, I was expecting more significant plot twists that would dramatically shuffle the deck. Don’t get me wrong, the almost horror-like opening scene in the office surprised me, but that feeling didn’t return. The ending didn’t outright annoy me, but given the intense setup between the protagonist and the antagonist, I anticipated a more crushing conclusion. The craftsmanship is good, but the film is otherwise not particularly outstanding. I’m giving it 68%. (03.08.2019)

An eager little thriller from the director of Geostorm. The story revolves around two young thieves who break into houses, but everything changes when one of them sees something he shouldn't have and starts a duel with sleazy psychopath (an excellent David Tennant) who is up to no good. The suspense works nicely, the film has a good pace, the actors are likeable, there are some minor surprises, so as a thriller, the film meets the criteria. It's nothing special, but I had a decent time and I'm happy to give the film a thumbs up. 70% (10.08.2018)