Sentencia de muerte

Atrás quedaron los días de los héroes de Seagal, los tipos duros de hoy son gerentes vinculados interpretados por actores que vengan a sus familias. James Wan sabe cómo trabajar con los actores, tiene un don de director para el dinamismo, la atmósfera entre sólida y frenética, y de vez en cuando juega inteligentemente con planos espectacularmente largos (el aparcamiento). Por todo ello, es una lástima que su obra visualmente impresionante se vea estropeada por algún que otro momento estúpido e ilógico. Ni siquiera todo el trabajo duro que el director pone en los momentos psicológicos y emocionales (conversaciones íntimas con la esposa y el hijo del protagonista) pueden suavizarlo. El resultado es «simplemente» entretenido e interesante y mantiene al espectador curioso por saber adónde irá el director la próxima vez. Ciertamente puede hacerlo mejor, pero le resulta difícil encontrar el equilibrio adecuado entre su enfoque de dirección y el guión que funcionó tan bien en Saw. (31.10.2008)

EdaS speaks to my soul, I would just add that even Arnold feeding a fawn with his daughter at the beginning of Commando was more believable than Bacon's emotional outpourings here. The action is pretty decent, Wan is good with the camera, but the rest is just bad. I don't think even Pepek Vyskoč could eat that. And back to Kevin Bacon, as brilliant as he was in The Woodsman, here I felt sorry for him. It was awful, Kevin. I miss Charles Bronson. (22.01.2008)

I join the ranks of those who didn’t like the direction the story takes in the last half hour. If the film had finished three quarters in, my rating would be higher. But what happens after that is pretty awful. Kevin Bacon suddenly stops being believable and all his behaviour becomes contrived (and that also applies to other characters). A solid thriller like this deserved a better ending. I’ve nothing against Wan’s direction, I liked it, but I hope he picks a better script next time. 65% (01.07.2008)

Kevin Bacon is a stud and he's good with a shotgun. James Wan once again revels in dark camera filters, and the whole thing is nicely straightforward and devoid of all unnecessary bullshit about morality. A simple but perfectly effective film that offers exactly what is expected of it. (22.11.2007)

A ruthless bloodbath, like it came out of the 80s. Comparisons with earlier Charles Bronson movies is certainly fitting. It’s good that Wan brought this pair back to life, because ruthless, atmospheric shootouts where the main protagonist loses everything and sets out on the road to revenge are woefully few and far between these days. And Kevin Bacon in the main role was superb. (11.01.2008)

It's a pity that it's sometimes ridiculously stupid, with a lot of irrational screenplay lapses. Otherwise, this formal fetish mix of the last Rambo and Out for Justice is quite nice, with a very dedicated Kevin Bacon – the biggest asset of the film. Had Max Payne been filmed in this gloomy style, with such meticulously crafted dark backgrounds and cheeky interior shots, it could have been a delight – I want a remake directed by  James Wan, because there will be some exciting things happening in action Hollywood in a few more films. (30.09.2014)