NEW TO VOD! It’s hard enough as young adults to fall in love. But to do that and be tasked with saving the world is a whole other matter in Andrzej Bartkowiak’s indie thriller, Dead Reckoning.
This year has not been a good one for the young Tillie Gardner (India Eisley)—join the club. She witnessed her parents’ death in a mysterious plane crash on FaceTime (and saved it for memory sake). She now lives with her Aunt Jennifer (Ellie Cornell), a recovering alcoholic. All she has to look forward to this summer is spending time with friends before heading off to college and a big Independence Day celebration on their home island of Nantucket.
Tillie’s life changes during a late-night campfire when she meets Niko (K.J. Apa), an immigrant making extra money driving a cab and selling some of the “good stuff” to the locals. When Tillie is too drunk to bike home, the chivalrous Niko offers to drive her, and a budding romance blooms.
“Unbeknownst to the two lovers, Niko’s Uncle Marco is a suspected terrorist.”
Unbeknownst to the two lovers, Niko’s Uncle Marco (Scott Adkins) is a suspected terrorist. Tillie’s father killed Niko’s terrorist father a year before. Now, FBI Agent Cantrell (James Remar) is on the hunt for Marco. It’s important to know that Cantrell is Tillie’s godfather and her father’s FBI partner (oh, those tangled webs). Thankfully, Tillie, Niko, and Aunt Jenny have no clue what’s going on. Niko barely knows what his uncle is up to either, which is to blow up the Nantucket Fourth of July Celebration.
Dead Reckoning lands solidly in the middle range of films as the good and bad elements average itself out. Bartkowiak’s movie is a mid-range independent thriller, which means the big effects and stunts look bigger than they are thanks to some movie magic and smart editing. It’s not bad, but movie buffs will figure it out.
Much of the action comes in the way of some good hand-to-hand fighting, and it’s the best part of the movie. It’s shot well and looks exciting, standing above most indie action in its budget category. A moment involving Aunt Jenny is quite spectacular to watch from just its stunt work alone.
"…the big effects and stunts look bigger than they are..."
