Adverse

 "Adverse" (2020, Brian Metcalf, Black Jellybeans Productions, Potato Eater Productions, Red Compass Media, Lionsgate).

Ethan (Thomas Nicholas) is trying to make up for a shady past. He is the sole guardian of his little sister, Mia (Kelly Arjen), and is barely making ends meet with a job as a ride share driver. His life is about to turn upside down, however, when it transpires that Mia has gotten herself into debt with some dangerous people. Taking the job as the driver for chief gangster, Kaden (Mickey Rourke), Ethan infiltrates the crime syndicate in an attempt to exact some revenge.

A dark tale with no true winners. The film starts off as a gritty neo noir thriller before ramping up into a more action driven piece. We follow Ethan as he reluctantly invades the criminals' operation, driving not only Kaden around, but also his associate Jake (Matt Ryan), who is suspicious of Ethan and has an unpredictable temper. Ethan also has to win over the other gang members in order to work his way up to Kaden; swallowing his pride to get close to them. 

The film takes its time to introduce Ethan, Mia and their world before ramping up in pacing. We meet Ethan's parole officer, Dr. Cruz (Lou Diamond Phillips) and his overbearing ride share boss (Sean Astin) and are introduced to his lonely, chain-smoking neighbour. Metcalf himself appears as the desperate nightclub owner and drug dealer who sets the whole sorry tale into motion. 

As Ethan's world begins to collapse, he attempts to take back control. The film boasts some impressively violent scenes and a fantastic 'first shooter' (or should I say, 'first tyre iron') style scene in a warehouse that demonstrates that Ethan has been pushed over a line he will not be able to come back from. 

Despite the short time we spend with the characters, the cast bring a depth to them. Mickey Rourke delivers an excellent performance as the ailing crime boss, Kaden, who is both disgusted at but resigned to continue his crime legacy. The film also lets Thomas Nicholas pull away from the more comedic roles he's known for to deliver the sympathetic, but gritty performance as lead man, Ethan. Kelly Arjen brings out the vulnerability in the feisty, headstrong Mia. And Matt Ryan's Jake is a quick tempered sadist who takes pleasure in violence, but also has a separate, softer façade for the outside world.

Available now on several VOD services in the US and also available to purchase on Region 1 DVD. The film is also playing the Ramsgate International Film Festival in the UK on 3rd June 2021. Hopefully, it will roll out onto other platforms globally in the not too distant future.

[Image: Lionsgate, et al]

Hani