Companion

Comanion

A Twisted Parody of Modern Romance

★★★☆☆

A fun, entertaining diversion that suffers from an over-revealing marketing campaign.

Directed by Drew Hancock, Companion is a movie unfortunately spoiled by its own marketing material. The first 30 minutes are spent waiting for the narrative to catch up to what the audience already knows from the trailers. Despite this, it remains a mildly interesting story of awakening and survival, functioning as a dark parody of romantic relationship dynamics.

"Perhaps years from now someone will come upon the film and will have no previous knowledge of the plot... and I will envy them."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Production Brief

• Director: Drew Hancock
• Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid
• Supporting: Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén
• Genre: Sci-Fi / Psychological Thriller / Black Comedy

Cleverly Spun Dark Comedy

Helping the experience along is an affable cast led by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. While the central "twist" may be common knowledge for those who followed the press, the film still manages to sprinkle in amusing, clever moments and shocking surprises. The plot deserves kudos for its creative use of black comedy, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Barbarian Connection: The film is produced by the same team behind the 2022 horror breakout Barbarian.
• Debut Feature: This marks the directorial debut for Drew Hancock, who previously wrote for various television comedies.
• The "Anti-Trailer" Movement: Director Hancock expressed a desire for audiences to go in blind, despite the high-concept reveals in the marketing.

✅ Pros

• Affable and engaging lead performances by Thatcher and Quaid.
• Creative and effective use of black comedy throughout.
• Still holds a few shocking surprises despite the trailers.

❌ Cons

• Marketing campaign spoils the major first-act hook.
• The first 30 minutes can feel redundant if you've seen the trailers.

🏆 Final Verdict

Overall, Companion is an entertaining diversion. Check it out—especially if you have managed to avoid the trailers and have no idea what the film is about. You'll likely enjoy the ride much more.

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A Working Man

Levon's Trade (A Working Man)

A Clumsy Knock-off Missing the Mark

★★½☆☆

A disappointing action collaboration that fails to recapture the magic of its predecessors.

Directed by David Ayer and written by Sylvester Stallone, A Working Man (also known as Levon's Trade) feels like a clumsy, often frustrating knock-off of genre staples like Taken and John Wick. Despite the high-caliber talent involved, including star Jason Statham, the film struggles with an infuriating amount of superfluous backstory and secondary setups that fail to lead anywhere worthwhile.

"Watching this film one is reminded of how tight a film like Taken was with its building, suspenseful action... and how great John Wick was with creating believable, worthy villains."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Action Assembly

• Director: David Ayer
• Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone (Based on Chuck Dixon's novel)
• Starring: Jason Statham, David Harbour
• Thematic Roots: Vigilante Justice / Retired Specialist

Choreography Without Heart

The film is not a total loss, as David Ayer attempts to "put lipstick and rouge on this mess" with well-choreographed action sequences. However, these moments of entertainment are buried under a journey that can be painful to sit through. Unlike Statham’s previous outing in The Beekeeper, there is simply no heart in the story to make the audience care about the stakes or the characters involved.

💡 Production Trivia

• Stallone/Statham Reunion: This film marks another collaboration between the two action icons following the Expendables series and Homefront.
• Literary Origin: The story is based on the popular "Levon Cade" series of thrillers by comic book writer Chuck Dixon.
• Ayer/Statham Duo: This is the second consecutive collaboration for Ayer and Statham following their success with The Beekeeper.

✅ Pros

• Well-choreographed, professional action sequences.
• David Ayer's visual direction tries to elevate the material.
• Statham remains a reliable, physical presence.

❌ Cons

• Infuriating amount of superfluous, go-nowhere backstory.
• Unintentionally humorous and annoying antagonists.
• Lacks the narrative heart or tension of Taken or John Wick.

🏆 Final Verdict

There are definitely better materials available from Stallone, Statham, and Ayer. I'd recommend seeking out their previous hits rather than holding this "disappointing mess" against them. For die-hard fans only.

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The Alto Knights

The Alto Knights

A Depressing Reminder of a Dead Genre

★★½☆☆

A throwback that unintentionally confirms the age of the Mafia film is truly over.

Directed by Barry Levinson, The Alto Knights attempts to turn back the clock to the golden era of gangster cinema. However, the film often feels like a parody of itself, struggling with tired stereotypes and heightened dialogue. Despite the high-concept hook of Robert De Niro playing dual roles, the project serves more as a vanity showcase than a meaningful contribution to the genre.

"The stark digital look makes the characters look like they are all playing pretend and dressing up as gangsters for Halloween or a costume party."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Film Details

• Director: Barry Levinson
• Starring: Robert De Niro (as Vito Genovese & Frank Costello)
• Writer: Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas, Casino)
• Cinematography: Digital / High Definition

The Technical Mismatch

The film’s digital photography does the genre a significant disservice. Mafia stories traditionally require the texture and grain of 35mm film to feel authentic; here, the clean digital look unintentionally highlights de-aging makeup and makes the production feel like a television sitcom. While it isn't "poorly made," it stands as a depressing reminder that the industry has pivoted away from the gritty, criminal character studies of the 70s and 90s.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Pileggi Connection: The script was written by legendary author Nicholas Pileggi, the man behind the source material for Goodfellas and Casino.
• De Niro's Legacy: This marks another collaboration in the twilight of De Niro's career focusing on his Mafia roots, following The Irishman.
• Dual Role: De Niro portrays both rival mob bosses, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who were real-life figures in the mid-20th century.

✅ Pros

• De Niro earns the right to revisit the genre he helped define.
• Competent direction from veteran Barry Levinson.
• Interesting historical context involving mid-century mob rivalry.

❌ Cons

• Stark digital photography lacks the necessary cinematic texture.
• Stereotypical characters and "painfully reminiscent" dialogue.
• Dual casting adds very little to the actual narrative.

🏆 Final Verdict

The Alto Knights should likely mark the end of the period gangster film. Unless someone can contribute a unique perspective, the genre feels exhausted—a costume party for a style of filmmaking that has moved on.

View original review on Letterboxd

Havoc

Havoc

Premium Carnage Without a Compelling Compass

★★★☆☆

Breathtaking action and top-tier choreography hampered by a shallow script.

Directed by the visionary Gareth Evans, Havoc delivers exactly what the title suggests: frenzied, bloody action and top-notch fight choreography. While Evans famously turned a paper-thin premise into a masterpiece with The Raid, here the script reaches for complex twists that ultimately feel hollow. Despite an impressive, "premium" feel across every technical department, the characters lack the likability needed to anchor the extravagant gun battles.

"Like the finale of a 4th of July fireworks show, its enjoyable while taking it in. But it's not especially memorable or moving in the long term."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Action Credentials

• Director: Gareth Evans (The Raid, Gangs of London)
• Starring: Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant
• Supporting: Luis Guzmán, Forest Whitaker
• Streaming: Exclusively on [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com)

Brutality Meets Creativity

The film is redeemed by its breathtaking action. Evans showcases a level of brutality and creativity that hearkens back to the heyday of John Woo and Robert Rodriguez. Every stunt and gun battle feels meticulously crafted, making it a feast for action purists even if the narrative remains secondary to the spectacle. It’s a showcase of high-end production design paired with a story that struggles to leave a lasting impression.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Delayed Impact: Havoc was filmed in 2021, undergoing extensive post-production and reshoots to perfect Evans' complex action sequences.
• Tom Hardy's Physicality: Hardy performed many of his own stunts, bringing the same gritty intensity seen in Mad Max: Fury Road.
• Welsh Connection: Despite its gritty urban American setting, much of the film was actually shot on location in Wales.

✅ Pros

• Elite-level fight choreography and innovative stunts.
• Impressive, "premium" production design throughout.
• Powerful, visceral performances from a star-studded cast.

❌ Cons

• Shallow, uncompelling script with forced twists.
• Characters are hard to root for or connect with.
• Action feels like isolated set-ups rather than a cohesive story.

🏆 Final Verdict

Havoc is a visceral, temporary high. It excels in the moment but fades quickly from memory. Watch it for the craftsmanship of Gareth Evans, but don't expect a new action classic on the level of The Raid.

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