So far, the collaborations between stunt coordinator turned DTV action director, Jesse V. Johnson, and Scott Adkins has resulted in some compelling action films that have placed an emphasis on choreography and stunt work where many mainstream films have faltered. With works like Savage Dog, Accident Man, The Debt Collector, and Triple Threat, which came out earlier this year, the two often bring the best out of each other, and with Johnson’s latest film, the ludicrously titled Avengement, the streak continues.
Like with many of these movies, the plot is really straightforward and simple, allowing ample opportunity for scenes of people brutally beating the hell out of each other. The basic idea is that Cain (Scott Adkins) is a low level crook who tries and fails at a job he doing for his gangster brother, Lincoln (Craig Fairbrass). He was caught by the cops, sentenced to jail, but he strangely finds himself targeted by fellow inmates, leading him on a quest to find out who is trying to get him killed, why, and how to get back at them.
A lot of the film is very self-explanatory, and certain plot turns are seen coming a mile away, but Johnson knows how to keep things efficient and clear so that he can get to the stuff that we’re all here to see. Avengement hits the ground running with brutal and purposefully messy brawls, setting up a gritty tone that the film carries for its entire hour and twenty-eight minute runtime. The action consists only of fisticuffs, but the choreography is always impressive, Adkins’ physicality is imposing, and it does a great job at building momentum.
I like the way the film is structured so that it’s practically a feature length stand-off. Early in the film, Cain escapes the prison guards after visiting his dead mother in the hospital, and makes his way to a bar where he has some old associates of his brother seated. He very quickly holds everyone at gunpoint, essentially keeping them hostage until his brother shows up. It’s in these dialogue exchanges where we find out more about Cain; how he got into working for his brother, the regret he feels after seeing the damage his brother’s work does to people, and the way he has prepared himself over a number of years in prison to take on whatever gets in the way of his revenge.
Cain is a fairly compelling, if somewhat archetypal character. It helps that Adkins sells every moment, really capturing the drive and desperation of the character, and his desire to do something to set things right, even if his mission will ultimately cost him his life. He’s far from perfect, and he knows it. He doesn’t wallow in self-pity, and his grunginess becomes a huge part of what makes him so charming and likable as a lead. The only real missed opportunity with him, and the film in general, is that it doesn’t quite do as much build up for the relationship with his brother. By the time Lincoln shows up, only certain lines of dialogue try to establish their history, and the state of where their relationship was versus how it is now. The big confrontation doesn’t feel as personal as it could’ve, to the point where Lincoln feels like he could’ve easily just been written as Cain’s former boss or something. If the film started off showing some personal aspects of their past, it would’ve made for a more impactful finale.
However, at the end of the day, it’s not like anyone is watching a movie called Avengement for its emotional resonance. I fully understand that, and it was hardly even a thought that registered as an issue as I was watching the film. It aims for simple, gruesome entertainment, and on that level, it’s a great success. I was so engaged by the fight sequences, the grimy settings, and gleefully vulgar banter between the characters. Johnson’s craftsmanship improves through the course of his career, and the sequences in this film are among the very best he’s ever done, and it makes for a stellar showcase for what Scott Adkins is capable of, not just as an action star, but as an enthralling character actor. While the film is a far cry from the spectacle of something like Avengers: Endgame, it still manages to show just how thrilling and awesome and satisfying a simple, bloody fist fight can be. I had a great time with this, and it’s an absolute must for action junkies out there.