Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Michael Polish, Icon Film Distribution, MA, 91 Minutes.
The main attraction in this semi-satisfying action drama from director Michael Polish (‘Amnesiac’) is Aussie Mel Gibson (‘Blood Father’) playing ex-cop Ray who together with his daughter Troy (Kate Bosworth – ‘Heist’) are caught up in a heist during a hurricane.
The story is set in Puerto Rico and begins with San Juan cop Cardillo (Emile Hirsch – ‘Lone Survivor’) experiencing an earlier tragic event before being told to evacuate everyone in an apartment block building in view of the threatening storm.
Cardillo is accompanied by rookie partner Jess (Peruvian Stephanie Cayo – in her first English-speaking film) arriving at the building with Griffin (William Catlett – TV’s ‘Black Lightening’) whom he previously arrested for purchasing too much meat for his large locked up cat.
Cardillo and Jess then proceed to knock on tenants’ doors initially telling an elderly German Bergkamp (Jorge Ramos – ‘The Vessel’) and then the bearded and burly Ray and his daughter Troy (a doctor) to prepare to leave their apartment.
At the same time Cardillo is unaware of the arrival of master criminal John the Baptist (David Zayas – ‘Skyline’) and his band of armed men intent on getting hold of the German especially the precious contents hidden within his apartment.
Between the shootouts and stairwell encounters resulting in guns blazing everywhere John together with his men soon find themselves being confronted by not only Cardillo, Jess and Troy but the highly experienced ex-cop Ray.
It is only after John captures both police officers and Troy that Cardillo reveals to him the that real prize he is seeking is hidden throughout the German’s apartment as well as in Griffin’s locked room-holding his large cat.
Although Polish’s movie is not a polished production it is enjoyable in parts having incorporated such strands in the storyline as a siege, a hurricane and a heist not to mention a developing relationship between Cardillo and Troy.
But it is Gibson again delivering the best of the entertaining scenes with his enjoyable performance-which regrettably is cut short.
Apart from Gibson’s short-lived performance the other major highlight lies in the concluding scenes where the master criminal meets the cat.
Force of Nature is being screened in cinemas from Thursday 13 August.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
