[Review] The Retaliators

We open to a body being dumped down a well, then a quick cut to two women driving in a van through woods, appearing to be on a trip. When they run a flat, you can feel it in your core that something wicked is about to take place. One is quite resourceful, getting out to fix the flat, while the other keeps time inside of the van. But then a figure shambles behind the woman, moving out of sight just as soon as you notice it. As quickly as the figure is out of sight, the woman is snatched from her objective of fixing the flat, blood splattered all over her face with blood-curdling screams echoing through the woods.

When the film begins, you think you’re in for a creature feature, but quite the contrary takes place. Despite the opening of the film introducing us to some heinous deaths, we jump into the life of John Bishop (Michael Lombardi, Rescue Me) who is a mild-mannered church pastor with two daughters (Katie Kelly, Abbey Hafer) he cares for. He tries to live his life according to the gospels, even when it comes to defending himself and his girls from a rude customer who takes their claimed Christmas tree, initiating a violent confrontation that’s very one-sided. However, when his teen daughter is murdered in cold-blood, he struggles to keep his faith and his teachings are taken to task.

Detective Jed, played by Ozark’s Marc Menchaca, provides our pastor with a choice to dole out punishment to the man who did the murderous deed. When John doesn’t give a satisfactory answer, all hell breaks loose—both figuratively and literally.

Samuel Gonzalez Jr. directed, The Retaliators tries for blood and gore and succeeds, while also giving us an antagonist we can root for because we believe in his cause, we want him to win and fight back at all cost. However, the only distraction is the added obstacle of a notorious biker gang and an unrelated war between one club and another. It’s cut into the story, but almost doesn’t seem to have a real place in the movie other than to give us our true antagonist, Vick’s brother Ram Kady (played by Joseph Gatt, Game of Thrones). When John finally does confront this unhinged character, we hope he fights back with a fervor missed in the earlier confrontation in the film. Although his prudence is admired, there’s no place for such patience when it comes to Ram’s beastly attacks.

This film is a good time with plenty of featured cast members that metal lovers will be excited about, while horror lovers can indulge in the bloodfest that drenches this film. Not without some parts that leave you a little confused, it’s still worth the watch if you’re looking for something that isn’t trying to be cerebral or cathartic. It’s an action-packed thriller with horror elements teeming throughout.

You can watch The Retaliators in theaters September 14. Tickets available from: https://www.retaliatorsmovie.com/