Almost but Not Quite There

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MOVIE REVIEW
The Moderator
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Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 21m
Director(s): Zhor Fassi-Fihri
Writer(s): Hicham Hajji, Jonathan McConnell
Cast: Irma Lake, Gary Dourdan, Robert Knepper, Michael Patrick Lane, Soraya Azzabi
Where To Watch: Available in select theatres, On Digital, and On Demand on July 29

A film that had so much potential but just didn’t quite come together in the end. There were a lot of fantastic scenes, although they were balanced by others that just didn’t reach the same heights. I enjoyed many performances, especially those of Irma Lake (Mya Snik) and Soraya Azzabi (Selma) as opposite and equally strong characters.

I think the film had some great potential and exciting characters. The biggest issue was probably the inconsistent tone of the story. I felt like there was a sharp jump to something else every time I got into what was happening. When the story focuses on character building mixed with just the right amount of action, it becomes an intriguing and fun movie.

I think there are the building blocks of what could be a potential franchise starter here. If the positives were built upon and the negatives polished up, it could be the next funfilled action franchise if they up the ante. I, of course, have no clue if they’re even thinking about sequels but at the same time, never say never! I knew of Saban Films before reviewing, but after digging in, they’ve created many unique and exciting films. You’ll find something you genuinely enjoy just dive into their filmography.

Some moments felt almost like a parody of themselves. While I know that was unintentional; it added a bit of realism that I wasn’t prepared for. The production values and acting were solid, but then it would slip into this weird experience. It went from feeling like a solid blockbuster to a B movie in the same breath.

I do have to say that the poster is probably one of my favorites of the year. Something about it just screamed fantastic; the bullet shells as the carpet just put a weird smile on my face.

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