The Retaliators – Review

The Retaliators – Review
97 Minutes, Rated
Written by Jeff Allen and Darren Geare
Directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr., Michael Lombardi, and Bridget Smith

Synopsis:

An upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter’s brutal murder. A high-octane original soundtrack and cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music set the tone as this horror-thriller reveals a game of revenge played using a new set of rules.

The Retaliators is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a devout pastor who loses his faith after he loses his daughter, so that’s two checkmarks (faith and family). We’ve got a cop who’s helping in the investigation, only to discover that he’s got stuff going on, as well.

And then just when we think this is going to remain a standard revenge tale, it turns all over itself and becomes a full-fledged horror.

And that’s okay, really.

Lately, I find I’ve become more appreciative of films that aren’t afraid to not simply blend or blur genres, but to say “Genres? Please; I’m going to do what I want.”

Seriously, though, I don’t want to ruin the twisties this movie throws at you, so let me just tell you that, bat-shittery aside (in a good way), the performances are pretty good here.

Michael Lombardi as Bishop, our traumatized pastor, reeks of the heartbreak he feels as he desperately tries to make sense of the world once his oldest daughter is taken away.

Marc Menchaca’s detective, Jed, seems to be a solidly world-weary cop just trying to do what he can to make things right, whatever it takes.

Joseph Gatt is incredibly menacing as Ram Kady, our villain, with an imposing stature and a glare that could kill if he wanted it to.

But, yes, once the film turns, things get bat-shit in a Malignant or Barbarian-esque way, embracing the lunacy and running with it.

Check it out, stick it out through the admittedly slow opening third, and there’s a payoff for you at the end.

Promise.

The Retaliators releases in theaters worldwide on September 14 and stars Micheal Lombardi, Marc Menchaca, Joseph Gatt, and Jacoby Shaddix.

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