Review: The Retaliators

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2022
Images from the Internet

The Retaliators
Directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr.; Bridget Smith; Michael Lombardi
Better Noise Films; K Phat Productions; CineLife Entertainment
97 minutes, 2022
www.retaliatorsmovie.com/  

Presently, we live in a world full of conspiracy theories and beliefs in shadowy cabals out for control. Modern stories are awash with them, from the high-octane assassins of the John Wick franchise to the more intimate mundanity of Stephen King’s 1978 stop-smoking short story, “Quitters, Inc.”

To be honest, when I read the premise of the film, I thought it was going to be a revenge action thriller. While that is not totally inaccurate, there are at least three stories going on here. First, there’s the violent prologue, which I’m sure will meld with the other two at some point. Second has to do with two rival motorcycle gangs dealing with a revenge motif, thanks to the brother of the leader of one of them, Ram (Joseph Gatt; Thenn Warg in “Game of Thrones”).

Michael Lombardi

The third and central story, which also involves Ram, circles around the family of a pastor, amusingly named John Bishop (Michael Lombardi, from “Rescue Me”; he was also an “additional director” for this release). He’s a “turn the other cheek” kind of guy, but his beloved daughter, Sarah (Katie Kelly) has been murdered, and he’s out for revenge. The Detective on the case is hardnosed Jed (Marc Menchaca; he played a recurring character on “Ozark” and “Homeland”). All three parts take place in New Jersey, filmed in Vineland.

And what would you do if you were given the opportunity to have 5 minutes alone with the person responsible for the brutal death of a loved one? Yes, this has been covered before in the likes of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), but here it is more mano-a-mano, as Bishop is given that opportunity “to heal,” hence the name of the film. His link to the Retaliator(s) is no surprise, but that is hardly important to the flow of the story. The biggest added element here is the fact that (a) he is a pastor, and (b) has preached turning the other cheek. As he looks over the mean, nasty, ugly implements of destruction, that instantly made me think of the cliché of the angel and devil on the shoulder paradigm. This is an interesting moral dilemma.

Marc Menchaca

His decision, which I will not reveal, leads us to the final act of the film, where all hell breaks loose, when Ram’s brother’s motorcycle gang shows up to find Ram, armed to the teeth. But that’s not where the danger originates, which, again, I will not give away, but it is an interesting concept that reminded me of a part of Enter the Dragon (1973). And what about Bishop? Think about Straw Dogs (1971; 2011).

The prologue is finally addressed in a way that made me smile despite the gruesomeness of it (because of it, perhaps?), as Bishop looks closer to Ash Williams than to a preacher. But I was waiting for a particular moment, hoping it would come (again, no giveaways, though it seemed pretty obvious to me).

With a mostly well seasoned cast (not counting the musician newbies), this was well-acted, with Lombardi giving his all, and I have to say, Gatt makes an amazing villain, looking so much more massive than his 6’1” frame; who knew he was a self-described Star Wars geek and collector?

While Bishop is a pastor and there are a couple of scenes in his church (both concerning sermons and scripture), I would totally say that this is not a religious-themed film, and is totally non-preachy in that way. Sigh of relief from Agnostic Atheist me.

A key element to the meta of this film is its cameos, which include Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee as the strip club’s DJ, Jacoby Shaddix (the voice of Papa Roach) in his first acting role as a serial killer, the band Five Finger Death Punch who play at Bishop’s church, and a whole bunch of other musicians. The soundtrack, which features the music to those and other high-line bands is also available on Better Noise Music, including the Crüe’s (plus others) “The Retaliators,” ‘natch. Speaking of cameos, watch for modern Scream Queen Sarah Nicklin as Emily, a crisis counselor.

I have to say I was surprised and pleased by the amount of blood, gore and violence that was throughout the film, with a beautifully done third act that kept me smiling as things went crash and boom. The SFX were practical, as far as I could tell, and flowing.

Oh, and did I mention this was a Christmas movie?

IMDB listing HERE