In Mexico, the former decorated and now rogue soldier Colton "Colt" MacReady (Scott Adkins) rescues his niece Hailey (Madison Lawlor),who was kidnapped by a dangerous cartel. During his operation, he kills the son of the druglord Fernando Garcia (Tony Perez) and brings a flash drive with the handcuff key of Hailey that Garcia's son had on his necklace. Garcia contacts the dirty Sheriff Jasper Calloway (Nick Chinlund) that goes to the ranch of Colton's sister, Angela Reynolds (Caitlin Keats),with two deputies. Angela is married to the scum Walt Reynolds (Jake La Botz) that stole drugs from Garcia's shipment, the reason why Hailey was abducted. While Calloway holds Angela and Hailey in the ranch, Garcia heads to the spot with eleven "soldiers" from his cartel to retrieve the flash drive.
"Close Range" is an action film for fans of shootings and fightings cnly since the choreography is very well made. However, the storyline and specially the acting is awful, full of clichés and wooden faces. It is difficult to point out who is the worst, but at least Madison Lawlor and Nick Chinlund are funny to see their faces. I am not sure whether Hailey last name is Reynolds, since Walt is her stepfather; therefore does not make sense his last name for her, only for Angela. Last but not the least, who would keep vital information in a flashdrive without any back-up? The USB flash drive is the same vulnerable as the hard disk drive. In other words, it can fail at any time without any omens. Once it gets broken or become inoperative, without any doubts, your data will get lost likewise. Hence, it is prudent and advisable to back up your flash drive data. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "Perigo Extremo" ("extreme Danger")
Close Range
2015
Action / Crime / Thriller
Close Range
2015
Action / Crime / Thriller
Plot summary
After unwittingly making off with a mysterious flash drive during the rescue of his young niece from a powerful drug cartel, Colton MacReady is thrust into a relentless fight to save his family as the cartel descends upon his sister's home in search of it and their own brand of south-of-the-border justice. In tow is a corrupt local sheriff and his crew of deputies, ensuring that help won't be coming any time soon. What ensues is a non-stop assault, a blow-by-blow survival marathon for Colton to protect his loved ones and save his own life while keeping the drive from falling back into the wrong hands.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
For Fans of Shootings and Fightings Only
Interesting camera work
Something you might not expect of reading, with a low budget movie like this, but I really liked the stunt and camera work, which go hand in hand in this one. I won't waste too much time on "story". In this case this has nothing to do with spoiling it, because the story itself is not really exciting or anything extraordinary. But you wouldn't expect that anyway.
Still very low and some of the acting to say the least does not help the movie either. But the stunt scenes are really well thought of, as are the camera angles and moves. I especially love the longer takes or the in your face (or hand) approach it takes. Again, this is small/low budget, so it's not like there is other things that are amazing (like locations, set design, even some of the "blood" effects seem more than cheap),but it can still work - and I think it does in some ways
Sometimes Really-Cool and Sometimes Not
In the Bubble of DTV Action Movies Director Isaac Florentine and Kick-Ass Specialist Scott Adkins are Bonafide Stars. This Cheapie chips away at every Trope available to the makers of this sort of Stuff.
The most Impressive thing in this thing is the way the Camera Lingers on the Martial Arts for the Viewer to be Awed and made aware that these Guys have Skills. Compare that to its Big Budget Betters and the Cheat of Shaky Cameras and Quick Cuts that leave the Audience with Incomprehensible Scenes that contain absolutely nothing in the "What is Actually Happening?" Department.
Here stands an Appreciation for the Skill Involved and a Respect for the Fans delivering what They Paid for. Sure, the Story is Thin and the Director makes some rather Questionable Decisions that Detract from the Film.
First, whose Brain-Dead Decision decided to include Actual Scenes from the Movie in the OPENING CREDITS. Imagine the Production Meeting (if there ever was such a thing) and someone said..."You know what would be Really-Cool...Let's take some of the Scenes in the Movie and show them in the Credits before they actually occur". Sheesh!
Sergio Leone notwithstanding, that rarely is anything but Artistic. It's just Plain Bad Filmmaking. How about the lengthy Scene in the Car when Characters are Introduced with Nicknames on Screen. Just Plain Dumb and Unforgivable unless You are Tarantino.
This Guy is no Leone or Tarantino. The Ending is a Homage it seems with a Protracted and Embarrassing contrived Suspense Builder that does nothing but draw attention to its "Hipness", or lack thereof.
Overall, despite its Corny Conceits and Endless Bullet Bouncing, the Martial Arts Scenes make it Worth a Watch.