Braven

Actie, Thriller

Beschikbaar voor VOD: 8 maart 2018

Regie: Lin Oeding

Cast: Jason Momoa (Justice League, Aquaman, Game of Thrones, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe, In The Blood), Garret Dillahunt (No Country for Old Men, Looper, 12 Years a Slave)

Joe Braven (Jason Momoa) leidt een keihard, maar simpel en eerlijk bestaan als houthakker langs de grens tussen de V.S. en Canada. Dat verandert echter op slag wanneer hij ontdekt dat een goedgeoliede drugbende zijn afgelegen berghutje als opslagplaats gebruikt. Het genadeloze kopstuk van de bende (Garret Dillahunt) wil de brave huisvader op de knieën dwingen door zijn gezin te bedreigen, maar dat is buiten de verbetenheid van zijn tegenstander gerekend. Want Braven heeft, letterlijk en figuurlijk, wel meer pijlen op zijn boog...

De gereputeerde stuntman en -regisseur Lin Oeding levert met Braven een wurgend spannend regiedebuut af, met spetterend in beeld gebrachte actiescènes in indrukwekkende natuurlijke decors en een uitmuntende cast: Jason Momoa (Justice League, Aquaman, Game of Thrones), Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe, In The Blood) en Garret Dillahunt (No Country for Old Men, Looper, 12 Years a Slave).

• Screendependent.be: De film is goed van het begin tot het einde en weet actie perfect te vermengen met het kleine dramatische verhaal. Regisseur Lin Oeding presenteert een stijlvolle, spannende en met momenten rakende film die echt de moeite waard is. En door het acteerwerk van Jason Momoa en Stephen Lang wordt het allemaal nog beter. Laat je dus niet misleiden door het feit dat de film niet in de bioscoop te zien was!
• Variety.com: Braven remains exciting and suspenseful even after Joe vrooms out of the claustrophobic cabin setting on an ATV, triggering a manhunt in the snow that further illustrates Oeding's ability to choreograph action in clear, clean fashion. And that action is all the more involving because the freshman filmmaker gives his actors sufficient time to flesh out their characters before the bullets (and arrows) start flying. To put it simply and gratefully: Braven is the sort of unpretentious yet thoroughly professional popcorn entertainment that brings out the best in everybody involved.
• Villagevoice.com: Any cheapjack action movie can get a crowd to cheer at its shock kills. It's the best ones that persuade us that there's a clear chain-of-events physical logic at play — that find suspense in one action leading inevitably to another.
• Latimes.com: Action-thriller 'Braven's' Jason Momoa proves as skilled on land as he is at sea. It's Momoa's show and he brings strength, warmth and gravitas to a part that, thanks to an emotionally-grounded script. A solid, fast-paced action-thriller.
• Slantmagazine.com: Lin Oeding's Braven thrives on both the beauty of its natural, snowbound surroundings and the brutal instincts of man. Braven is the sort of scaled-down, sure-footed, and efficient action film that the hyper-saturated video-on-demand market needs more of.
• NYPost.com: For anyone looking for a shot of vengeance adrenaline while waiting for "John Wick 3" to come down the pike, "Braven" will probably fit the bill.
• Cinemarter.com: Braven will satisfy action movie fans who want to see a chapter that relies more on the physicality of its actors than technology. It has a simple premise, a slow-burn setup, and then lets it all play out logically.
• Flyckeringmyth.com: Lin Oeding's Braven is the kind of 90s punch-in-the-mouth action flick us genre fans fight tooth-and-nail to find nowadays. A deliciously junkfood Jason Momoa centerpiece that could be wedged right between Commando and Cobra watches. Hell, Oeding's opening lumberjack sequence is a straight callback to 1985's Arnold Schwarzenegger classic (missed opportunity not having Momoa carry a log, if you ask me). Reluctant heroes, stone-cold criminals, packages of dope – it's everything we love about cheesy survival flicks with zero hassle. Simplicity be damned. If there's one thing Braven knows how to do, it's show you a bloody good time. 

Death in Texas

Actie

Beschikbaar voor VOD: 5 augustus 2021

Regie: Scott Windhauser

Cast: Lara Flynn Boyle (Men In Black II, The Practice, Twin Peaks), Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe, In The Blood), Bruce Dern (Monster, The Astronaut Farmer), Ronnie Gene Blevins (The Conjuring III)

Billy Walker verlaat de gevangenis en verneemt dat zijn moeder zonder nieuwe lever niet lang meer te leven heeft. Omdat ze de enige is die hem nooit in de steek liet, zet hij alles op alles om haar te redden. Ook al betekent moet hij daarvoor afdalen in de onderbuik van El Paso en de strijd aanbinden met een meedogenloze misdaadbaas. 

• Blu-ray.com: Scott Windhauser finds a fresh way to deal with old genre business in "Death in Texas." He commits to character and performance, working to get the audience invested in these damaged people and their emotional history, making clear connections between the players while gradually increasing tension.
• Eyeforfilm.co.uk: Boyle has had a number of misfires over the course of her career, but here she really delivers, and she has great chemistry with Lang. The other main performances are similarly impressive.
• Jbspins.com: Ronnie Gene Blevins deserves credit for his hardboiled but understated performance as Walker.
• Nightmarishconjurings.com: This cast is excellent. Bruce Dern brings that same grit that is present in the entire film and it makes him a perfect baddie. As for Stephen Lang, he’s a great actor, giving a great performance of a terribly written character. Truthfully, that’s the heart of the issue with this film. It’s a grouping of excellent performances.

Gutshot Straight

Actie, Thriller

Beschikbaar voor VOD: 13 april 2015

Regie: Justin Steele

Cast: George Eads (CSI), AnnaLynne McCord (90210, Officer Down, Scorned), Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe, In The Blood), Ted Levine (Shutter Island, The Silence of the Lambs, American Gangster, The Bridge), Steven Seagal (Under Siege, A Dangerous Man, Executive Decision), Vinnie Jones (Snatch, Hijacked, X-Men: The Last Stand), Tia Carrere (True Lies), Fiona Dourif (The Messenger, The Master)

Alles te verliezen? Niets te verliezen? Gokken moet je toch.

Het ontbreekt Jack Daniel (George Eads) niet aan looks of charmes, maar hij verkwanselt zijn leven en talenten met gokken en drinken. Hij knoopt de eindjes aan elkaar met een klusje hier, een pokeravondje daar, tot de alimentatie voor zijn ex en jonge dochtertje en zijn schulden bij bookmaker Paulie Trunks (Steven Seagal) hem aan de rand van de afgrond brengen. Dan leert hij Duffy kennen, een steenrijke gokker die zich als zijn reddende engel profileert. Helaas raakt Jack verwikkeld in een web van moord en chantage, met Duffy's broer en bloedmooie vrouw als spilfiguren. Wanneer zijn pokermaatjes en zelfs zijn gezin bedreigd worden, zit er voor de wanhopige Jack niets anders op dan zijn kwelgeesten te bestrijden met de grootste gok van zijn leven.

Bikkelharde, intrigerende thriller met tal van plotwendingen en heel wat bekende gezichten: George Eads (CSI), AnnaLynne McCord (90210), Stephen Lang (Avatar), Ted Levine (Shutter Island), Steven Seagal (Under Siege), Vinnie Jones (Snatch), Tia Carrere (True Lies) en Fiona Dourif (The Messenger).

• Flickeringmyth.com: The film looks great with some slick and colourful visuals, the acting is pretty good and the story set-up is fantastic and really draws you in.
• Goodefficientbutchery.blogspot.nl: Seagal gets a terrific monologue about why he's called "Paulie Trunks" and has a few genuinely funny, possibly ad-libbed lines and he makes every moment count. Gutshot Straight has a lot of positives in its favor.
• Devon-cornwall-film.co.uk: A nifty little B-movie neo-noir. He may be one of the least showy CSI cast members, but blank canvas George Eads is a surprisingly effective noir antihero, and shoulders the double-crossing narrative convincingly. Admittedly, the pace does slacken in the second half of the film, but Gutshot has enough worthwhile moments to keep you interested. Inessential, but strangely appealing.

In The Blood

Actie, Misdaad, Thriller

Beschikbaar voor VOD: 18 november 2014

Regie: John Stockwell

Cast: Gina Carano (Deadpool, Haywire, Furious 6), Cam Gigandet (Priest, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn II, Easy A), Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe, In The Blood), Luis Guzmán (The Last Stand, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Anger Management ), Danny Trejo (Machete, In the Blood), Amaury Nolasco (A Good Day to Die Hard, Transformers, 2 Fast 2 Furious), Ismael Cruz Cordova (White Alligator)

Wat een exotische huwelijksreis in een Caraïbisch vakantieparadijs moest worden, ontaardt in een helse nachtmerrie wanneer Ava (Gina Carano) hulpeloos moet toezien hoe haar man Derek (Cam Gigandet, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn II) neerstort en afgevoerd wordt in een "ambulance". Al snel dringt het tot haar door dat ze een pion is in een smerig ontvoeringscomplot en dat de lokale politie haar eerder als een goudzoeker beschouwt dan een radeloze echtgenote.

Maar de mooie Ava is geen katje om zonder handschoenen aan te pakken. Ze grijpt terug naar de dodelijke talenten uit haar schimmige verleden en gaat op eigen houtje op zoek naar haar ontvoerde man. En o wee de misdadigers die haar ook maar één strobreed in de weg leggen... things could get nasty!

Voormalig MMA-kampioene Gina Carano (Haywire, Fast & Furious 6) blaast de mannelijke tegenstand letterlijk en figuurlijk van het scherm in deze spetterende en wurgend spannende actiethriller van John Stockwell (Blue Crush, Turistas). Maar de andere castleden zijn ook geen doetjes, met glansrollen voor Stephen Lang (Avatar), Luis Guzmán (The Last Stand), Danny Trejo (Machete, In the Blood), Treat Williams (The Substitute) en Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break, A Good Day to Die Hard).

• 1nfluxmagazine.com: A movie that kept me glued to the screen...and my adrenalin pumping! An exceptional film all around.
• Cinema-crazed.com: The excellent Gina Carano takes her shot at her own version of "Breakdown," and "Frantic," with an action thriller that delivers on all fronts. "In the Blood" is a great vehicle for Gina Carano, it's a tense and exciting action thriller I was very much invested in until the very end, and I can't wait to see more from Ms. Carano.
• CoolAwesomeMovies.com: The bottom line, that is, why "In the Blood" works is the following: Gina Carano is a good action hero(ine). Gina bring that old-school action vibe to the table.
• KungFuCinema.com: Following her debut lead role in HAYWIRE, former mixed martial arts champion Gina Carano proves with this follow-up that she can not only fight, but proves herself to be a good actress.
• TheFilmStage.com: This is her Cobra, her Commando, her Double Team — now she is truly an action star.
• DigitalJournal.com: One of the great things about casting Carano in this role is she is believable. As a former mixed martial arts fighter turned actress, she doesn't need to pretend to know what she's doing in a fight because she actually does.
• Cooltarget.blogspot.co.uk: It's Carano's relentless mission through the seedier side of the Caribbean that gives the film its momentum and the former fighter turn actress proves again she's got the talent to become a leading female action star.
• Cinemadeviant.com: You completely get your money's worth with this one and if you are into action movies or (more importantly) Gina Carano then you WILL NOT be disappointed one bit and I can't wait to see her in more movies like this.
• Variety.com: Ava goes full Death Wish. Not just a martial artist, Ava proves proficient in amateur surgery ("Oh, but you can live without your spleen, can't you?).
• LATimes.com: Action and thrills are 'In the Blood'.
• Examiner.com: [The] star is no shrinking violet unable to fend off her attackers. Instead it's MMA star-turned-movie bad ass Gina Carano, in her first solo lead role since Haywire. When she's doing her thing, namely cracking a few skulls, the film is a fun, gritty throwback. She's not only a physical force of nature, bending her screen foes into pretzels with ease, but she's also quite the beauty and someone who has a natural presence. When Carano is given free reign to break a few bones, you never want to look away. A solid old school action flick.
• Theactionelite.com: Overall, In the Blood really showcases Gina Carano's action hero credentials and if you're looking for a movie with some twists and turns, engaging story and plenty of broken bones then you'll have a blast.
• 7mpictures.com: Fortunately, "In the Blood" is more like the aforementioned "Taken" and less like "Hostel." Still, it's this ripped-from-the-headlines approach to the story that makes it hit home.
• ShowBizJunkies.com: The film's well-paced and if you're into reality-driven action scenes, it's one of the better offerings in what's, thus far, been a disappointing year for the genre.
• Filmschoolrejects.com: Ava breaks more than a few bones on her way to the truth, and that's where Carano shines.
• DVDTalk.com: It's a stalwart reminder of traditional punch-and-kick action flicks standing firm for a tradition of non-CGI stunts.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Actie

Beschikbaar voor VOD: 12 november 2020

Regie: Joe Begos

Cast: Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe, In The Blood), William Sadler (When They See Us, The Shawshank Redemption), Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn), Sierra McCormick (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Vietnamveteraan Fred en zijn wapenbroeders moeten in allerijl een arsenaal in elkaar knutselen om hun favoriete bar – en een onschuldig tienermeisje – te beschermen tegen een gestoorde drugdealer en zijn horde zielloze punkmutanten. Deze krasse knarren zijn al naar de hel geweest en teruggekeerd, maar wordt dit dan toch hun last stand? Letterlijk en figuurlijk ouderwetse actie en ultraviolence!

• Filmthreat.com: Begos shows us what he’s really made of by building a relentless pace so packed with tension we remain firmly at the edge of our seats, biting our fingernails until there’s nothing left.
• Austinchronicle.com: Splatter. Some are imitate it, mimicking the gritty, gory glories of 1980s exploitation cinema. Yet some are clearly born to it, relishing the way that blood and brains spread over a ring-marked sticky bar top. Count Joe Begos among the latter and VFW is his VHStastic nightmare, an unrelenting throwback to a gleefully caustic view of America's capacity for untrammeled nastiness.
• Joblo.com: Joe Begos has assembled a killer cast of legit genre movie icons for his action-horror hybrid VFW. A take on John Carpenter’s ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (right down to the Carpenter-esque score), this old genre staple gets shaken up a bit in that, rather than have the bad guys totally outmatch our heroes, the good guys are more than able to hold their own – and then some.
• Film.avclub.com: Drenched in grit, gore, and neon, VFW is an action throwback that hits all the right notes.
• Thefilmstage.com: Joe Begos Delivers a Carnage-Filled Throwback.
• Slashfilm.com: It’s vile, slick with repugnance, and appropriately inhumane. A canon full of guts blasted straight into your face – the Fangoria way.
• Nytimes.com: Characterized by blood-red lighting and bright-blue dialogue, the movie revels in a blasted urban setting that’s as repugnant as most of its supporting characters. And that’s before heads explode and faces are pounded to dog meat.
• Hollywoodreporter.com" the pic succeeds on its own terms of being a nostalgic throwback to the days when such B-movies routinely opened on double and triple bills in urban grindhouses.
• Blu-ray.com: Violence is the selling point of VFW, as the Fangoria production is drenched in blood, with weapons repeatedly destroying bodies. It is primarily out to raise hell, and it does well with frequent thrills, giving this unusual cast room to go wild.
• Eyeforfilm.co.uk: it’s brash, ballsy and a lot of fun to watch.
• Theactionelite.com: Overall, VFW might well be the best action movie of the year so far and we’ve had some great ones; the cast are all at their best but it’s the glorious orgy of violence that will keep you glued to your seat from beginning to end.

• Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2019 - Winner Best Actor
• Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2019 - Audience Award