Film Review: Samaritan

 Genre: Action/ drama/fantasy

Cert: 15 cert

Director: Julius Avery

Screenwriter: Bragi F. Schut

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Javon 'Wanna' Walton, Pilou Asbæk, Dascha Polanco, Sophia Tatum, Moises Arias, Martin Starr, Jared Odrick, Michael Aaron Milligan, Henry G. Sanders, Abraham Clinkscales, Shameik Moore, Frederick Williams, Kevin Mikal Curry, Roger Payano, Dwayne A. Thomas, Aria Seymore, Nicholas Logan

Running time: 1h 42m

Parents advised reading before viewing the film as some scenes may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity: There is no romantic storyline and no kissing or anything

Posters/images of many women on the walls in sexually suggestive poses in bikinis and lingerie. we'll get close to them at times because of the camera. shown three separate times.

A woman wears a top that reveals her sports bra. We can see a lot of her skin- her back and the sides of her waist.

Violence & Gore: The final scene could be seen as excessively violent given the age rating of the film

Broken bones, dead bodies, mutilations and death

Lots of action, but minimal blood and gore.

Profanity: 1 use of the f-word 13 uses of the shit, 3 each use of other profanity and 1 use of the g-dword

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Alcohol

Frightening/Intense Scenes: There are some intense moments in the fight scenes

Story: Years ago, Granite City's super-powered vigilante, Samaritan, was reported dead after a fiery warehouse battle with his rival, Nemesis. Most believe Samaritan perished in the fire, but some in the city, like Sam, have hope that he is still alive. 

Likes: "Samaritan" is it any good? I can honestly say yes; The film has a lot of throwback with the dark vs light style of the 80's hero story, with a charismatic villian tearing up the city, while a retired superhero just wants to be left alone.

The film actually does give the audience a back story in a Kane and able superhero battle with each other at battle with each other, which shows a past as they are growing up with the powers; the people shunned them causing the people to rally against them, but cause a power struggle between them as one turn evil for revenge and the other turn to protect which give a great aspect of the movie. 

Got to give it to Stallone he's a seasoned actor that been in the bussiness a long time with the 80's films like Rambo, Rocky and the recent Expendables movies, you gotta give credit where credit is due for being able to be a selfless actor at times. He knows he's old and does not mind playing the role of an ageing-action hero, which he did perfectly. 

While Pilou Asbæk plays the 80's style of villian tearing up the city and rallying the people to help him, in a city where the government has left the people in poverty, he plays this role pretty well.

If there is anything about this film that is worth watching is Stallone going absolute beast mode on the villains, yes there are moments during the film it gets a little cheesy and cliche at times, but it is worth it watching as he just throws them around like rag dolls.

The Twist in the story, I never saw coming which really turns the story around to be a different tone of events, the 3rd act of the film fight scene turns brutal with some cheesy one-liners like Arnold would do in some of his films.  

 Would I recommend this? yes, it's a great story, it is not the typical low-budget mainstream hero film like DC or marvel but it is a film made for TV that's for sure, but it has its own charm.  

 

Dislikes: While the CGI fire in the building is Questionable but you have to accept it as a low-budget movie. Could the film character be more fleshed out a bit with a bigger budget yes because it could've made the character a bit more interesting, but still a good film to watch?  

Overall: great acting, good action, not bad for a different take on a superhero film. 

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 for Entertainment / 8.4 out of 10 for its concept.