Art of Deception

Ryan and Nova’s Art of Deception has potential to reach bigger heights on its modest budget, but falls just a little short in the end. Let me start with the positives. First, I’m sure the quality of the acting pool is limited, particularly when stunt work is required. The acting in the film isn’t the greatest, but good enough to sustain the film. As the film’s leads, Ryan and Nova are excellent, but overact in dramatic moments on occasion. Some of the spy gadgets and special effects are clever, which is a necessity with any successful low-budget film. Like watching a magic trick you’ve seen a million times, it works and fun to watch. The action, particularly the fights are good as well.

The main problem with Art of Deception is the filmmakers should understand their limited resources and lean into your strengths. In the case, the film’s strengths is its fight and action scenes. The fights present the most amount of energy and action to the film, and there should have been more of them. The film makes the most of its limited resources is in its action scenes, especially with the film’s opening moments. The use of camera tricks is also effective in the torture/interrogation scenes. There is enough of these “cool” moments to make a reccomendation.

“The film makes the most of its limited resources is in its action scenes…”

On the other side, because of the small budget, less emphasis should have been spent on the conspiracy/spy story itself. Hear me out. In Art of Deception, the characters talk about creating a deadly virus, but never shows the effects of the virus on an unsuspecting villain. Telling audiences about a deadly virus is never as good as showing it. Even cheesy, cheap effects would have helped this aspect of the film. All of the conspiracy elements are presented primarily through exposition as characters talk about the plot and its implications on character, when proper thrillers show it through action. Even emotional moments between characters like Joseph and Valentina, and Joseph and his brother, are talked about through conversation. Show, don’t tell.

Art of Deception is a good story of underdogs toppling government corruption and political intrigue. It is a good action film, that is ultimately let down by its own limitations to ultimately become a proper thriller, when it really should have leaned into being a fight-centered action film.