With his star in taciturn mode, Roth does manage to capture the uncomfortable nature of Winner's original – minus the horrific sexual violence, thankfully. But, unless you're a gun nut, this will make you feel very queasy.
The storytelling is on a similar level to that of a shoot ‘em up video game. Winner’s original film seemed nuanced and sophisticated by comparison.
Eli Roth updates Michael Winner’s gory vigilante thriller in an unwholesome celebration of American gun culture.
Infuriatingly bland.
Sadly, Donald Trump hasn’t quite found his Leni Riefenstahl: this is a film too embarrassed to be what it is. And shorn of capes and costumes, vigilantism is pretty ugly. Though Roth’s gift for the gruesome gives it a small voyeuristic appeal.
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