Shadows on the Wall

Samaritan

dir Julius Avery
scr Bragi F Schut
prd Sylvester Stallone, Braden Aftergood
with Sylvester Stallone, Javon 'Wanna' Walton, Pilou Asbaek, Dascha Polanco, Sophia Tatum, Moises Arias, Martin Starr, Jared Odrick, Henry G Sanders, Shameik Moore, Michael Aaron Milligan, Abraham Clinkscales
release US/UK 26.Aug.22
22/US MGM 1h39

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Told from a child's perspective, this thriller gives Sylvester Stallone a chance to flex some grizzled superhero muscle. He anchors things even when the movie is awash with the usual trite action cliches. Director Julius Avery doesn't seem hugely interested in bringing out any nuances, which leaves the film feeling more than a little corny, like an unusually violent kids' adventure. But it's not without its entertaining moments.

Living with his struggling single mother (Polanco) in Granite City, 13-year-old Sam (Walton) doesn't believe that freakishly strong Samaritan and his evil twin Nemesis died in an explosion two decades ago. Now Sam is convinced garbage-man Joe (Stallone) is Samaritan, after he rescues Sam from vicious thug Reza (Arias). But his journalist friend Albert (Starr), who has long tried to prove that Samaritan lives, is dubious. Meanwhile, Sam is also mixed up with gang leader Cyrus (Asbaek), who is marauding through the city and is in possession of the only weapon that can kill Samaritan.

Samaritan and Nemesis' backstory plays out in a colourfully animated prologue, followed by flashbacks and overheard reports about economic crises devastating the city's poorer residents, leading to rising crime rates. So Cyrus poses as Nemesis, presenting himself as a hero for the people. While there's a proper sense of nastiness in the fight scenes, and Stallone plays the role with an almighty roar, the plot unfolds in such simplistic ways that even the twists feel requisite.

Characters are either good or nasty, with only a few shadings. In the beefiest role, literally, Stallone has fun as a cranky old loner annoyed by this pesky kid. He's a reluctant tough guy, and he holds the film together pretty much single-handedly, solidly balanced by Asbaek's charismatic rock-star villain. Walton gives Sam a strong mix of curiosity and grit, although his fascination with brutality feels unlikely. Other characters bring needed spark, but barely get a chance to register.

In a moment of insight, the script references the fact that a city is in trouble if it relies on someone magical to solve its problems. And it's intriguing that Joe is a pacifist who knows that fighting solves nothing. While many sequences turn seriously grisly, the battles have a goofy flair to them. And Stallone is compelling even when things feel silly, although the script botches its attempt at redemption. Then as the narrative builds to the usual climactic fiery showdown in an abandoned warehouse, the standard plot elements eliminate both suspense and surprises.

themes, language, violence 25.Aug.22

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