Director: Keith Palmer
Writer: Keith Palmer (Screenplay)
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alfred Molina, Mindy Robinson, Josh Henderson, Lennie James
Plot: Ten years after their casino heist, four escaped convicts trace their former partner to a desert town, where he is now a lawman with no memory of his criminal past.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Very Slow Thriller
Story: Swelter starts as we see how Bishop (James), Stillman (Van Damme), Boyd (Henderson), Cole (Bowler) who all tried to pull a Vegas robbery, Bishop escapes but loses his memory the rest spend time behind bars, 10 years later they are all free looking for Bishop who has become the Sheriff of a small town called Baker.
Stillman leading the way in search for Bishop to retrieve the money that was taken, causing chaos in the town, but when they learn of Bishop’s state they find themselves needing to find another way to find their money.
Thoughts on Swelter
Characters/Performance – Bishop is the former casino robber turned sheriff because of the memory loss he suffered on his last job, he does suffer nightmares about his past but never understands them, he must now save his town from his past. Stillman is part of the original casino team but now he wants it back, we don’t see what he is capable off early on in this film. Doc is the local doctor who does have a connection to Bishop’s past. The rest of the characters are what you expect for this genre and setting.
Performance wise, Lennie James is good but mostly like a Morgan we have known before, Molina is fine in his supporting role giving us what we know he can do. Jean-Claude Van Damme is the mystery in this because most of his role is sitting and watching what is going on.
Story – This story does follow the traditional idea of the one lone member of a gang doesn’t do time for a robbery and once the rest are released they come back to get what they think is theirs’. This does have a slight twist on that idea because the free one has lost their memory and the returning group know that violence isn’t going to be the answer. The reality is most of this film feel very slow moving.
Action/Crime – The action is fine mostly fights but nothing fancy with the crime story mostly being about the characters involved.
Settings – The small town does help for the story and help build the town of small town people through the generic side of things.
Effects – The small effects needed are all fine and never over complicate anything.
Final Thoughts – This is a thriller that just lacks that punch needed and completely wastes having Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Overall: Lacklustre disappointing thriller.
Rating
