I Am Vengeance: Retaliation (2020)

 I Am Vengeance: Retaliation (2020)- * * *

Directed by: Ross Boyask

Starring: Stu Bennett, Katrina Durden, Joe Egan, Phoebe Robinson Galvin, and Vinnie Jones

Professional toughguy John Gold (Barrett) is tasked with finding a baddie named Sean Teague (Jones), and then transporting him to a military prison. It seems Teague was once on the side of the good guys, but he went bad. He now has a team of mercenaries guarding him at all times. But Gold has a team with him as well, and it's going to be an all-out brawl to see which side will be victorious. Adding to that volatile mix is wildcard Jen Quaid (Durden) who just wants revenge against Teague for personal reasons. Who will be vengeance? Who will get retaliation? Find out today...


If you watch I Am Vengeance: Retaliation, you realize that by 2020, it's quite possible that all action plotlines have been done before. It's probably hard to come up with a new framework that would allow for people to punch, kick, and shoot each other. IAV: R does not in any way attempt to reinvent the wheel. While it's not the most original idea in the world, it's still far better than similar outings such as Contract to Kill (2016) and Cartels (2016).


The reason for this is that, if you're looking for it, IAV: R reveals a sly, tongue-in-cheek humor that lets the viewer know that they're self-aware. There's just enough of that so that the movie is more palatable than its competitors. Yes, there are plenty of stupid and silly moments, but that's the name of the game. You shouldn't expect anything else.


There are the fun cliches we all know and enjoy - John Gold is initially reluctant to take on the mission, but his handler tempts him by saying if he does it, he'll "wipe his slate clean", Teague went rogue and now both sides have to "assemble a team" to fight each other, there are plenty of warehouse-set beat-em-ups and shootouts, and, of course, John Gold is the strong, silent type who goes into a strip club and kills first and asks no questions later. There's more that we could name, but then you'd have no reason to watch the film.


I Am Vengeance: Retaliation doesn't skimp on the action, you have to give it that. Additionally, it's 79 minutes before the credits. There's also a notable meathead, Gunnar (Egan). So you get your Stu Bennett and Vinnie Jones on, plus some impressive female fighters in there with the Kate Lynch (Robinson-Galvin) and Jen Quaid characters.


So, for a modern-day actioner done on a low budget, I Am Vengeance: Retaliation stands out amongst the crowd.

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Also check out a write-up from our buddy DTVC!