Set in the oppressive atmosphere of a gloomy London, Renegades opens with a shocking scene: Major Carver (played by LeeMajors) – a veteran Green Beret – is brutally murdered by a drug gang led by Goram (LouisMandylor)
This sudden death ignites the flames of revenge in the hearts of his teammates – four former SAS commandos – as they unite to bring the culprit to justice, even if it means going against the law.
The highlight of Renegades is the veteran cast. Danny Trejo (as Sanchez) plays a key role, connecting the task force, bringing both gentle humor and no less thorny.
LeeMajors – an icon of 70s-80s action movies – brings the image of an old, steadfast leader who knows his age is a barrier. The support from NickMoran, IanOgilvy, BillyMurray, PaulBarber further highlights the strong and touching team spirit
The script by TomJolliffe and JonathanSothcott focuses on exploiting the theme of revenge - "bodyguard" - which has been favored by many 8X, 9X films. With director DanielZirilli, the film is staged like a classic action film: high speed, eye-catching and bloody fighting scenes, strong firepower that does not give the audience a moment to rest
However, the direction does not forget to include silent moments reflecting the inner thoughts of the characters when age and loss make them realize that they are no longer the same.
The downside of the film lies in the dialogue that is not really convincing enough. Many critics commented that the dialogue in some places "seems like it was written by an AI chatbot", lacking emotional depth. In addition, the special effects and intensity of the action sometimes fall into repetition, making it easy for viewers to feel bored. On Rotten Tomatoes, the professional score is around 88% from a handful of expert reviews, but the general audience response is quite mixed, ranging from low to high.
Overall, Renegades is an action treat for loyal fans of the "old-school" style of bullet-riddled movies. If you love exciting fights, satisfying endings and images of "veteran" warriors showing off their skills, the movie will definitely impress. On the contrary, if you expect a deep script or sophisticated dialogue, the movie may not reach. However, with the message "age does not hinder courage", Renegades is still a worthy choice for an entertaining evening, especially for those who are familiar with the cinema of the previous decade.
