If this sounds familiar, that’s because it bears resemblance
to the 1991 picture Toy Soldiers. Things
have been changed up enough, becoming more of a UK product and stepping into
nature as opposed to a large boarding school. The grand, scenic locations and
set designs used in this more than make up for what many would argue is
essentially a remake. These locations include Manhattan and the South Stack
Lighthouse located on a small island off of the coast of Wales. This island is
where the bulk of the action takes place and makes for a stunning backdrop to
the events that unfold.
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| I have a square jaw line. That's how you know I mean business. |
The direction and cinematography are superb and we are given
a nice collection of quality shots and angles, that when combined with the
editing makes for a finely crafted piece of work. The score composed by the
band Hybrid is outstanding, who have become known for combining electronic
music with orchestral scores. The cast all do a decent job, even if most of their
characters are rather one dimensional. They are provided with just even
material in order to paint a portrait of that person. Most of them are
recognizable from the various television shows that they have become known for
appearing in. Jeremy Sumpter (Friday
Night Lights) and Phoebe Tonkin (The
Originals) get the most to play with as they are the two main rich kids who
have a prior history and develop a romantic relationship. Ed Westwick (Gossip
Girl) plays the main baddie and shows once again that he excels in the role of
a villain. The other actress that stands out is Julia Ragnarsson as an
eccentric and dark female villain, almost coming off as a Harley Quinn type at
times.
Despite the standard narrative, the massive scale and
intense action will be more than enough to keep audiences entertained
throughout.
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Score
-Sir Raul Vantassle