I loved the first half of this movie, I loved it so much I would often rewind it and watch it ! The second half is when it got too many twists, everybody got careless and the whole thing went to hell! I don't know about you but if somebody kidnaps my daughter me and my crew are retaliating on who we think did it, I would be on my guard 24/7 Nicolas Cage and he's two cronies are going around kicking ass and taking names, then they let their guard down knowing those that you retaliate against are coming for you, also when I didn't like these, fools are going around in broad daylight shooting and beating up the bad guys in a RUSSIAN MOB! Seriously? I found that very careless and very silly, but again the first half was great and the twist was awesome! I don't want to ruin it for those who wish to see it. It was free on Amazon Prime so I didn't pay for it I would have been pissed if I had! I watch movies like many to be entertained, so the movie doesn't have to always be perfect but it would be nice if it made sense! The first half made sense...The second half GTFO.

When the daughter of a reformed criminal (Nicolas Cage happily married to Rachel Nichols ) is abducted , he rounds up his old team (Max Ryan , Michael McGrady) and attempts to solve the kidnap , at the same time he seeks vendetta against the kidnappers . As he and his crew face off criminal bosses and henchmen employing drastic tortures and pains including crude punishment , physical abuse , panic attack and brutal violence . The past never stays dead.

This is a thrilling and bleak film with high doses of suspense , intrigue , plot twists , blood , and violence . This stirring story is compellingly filmed , following a violent and dark style similar to Paco Cabezas' former successful films . And sadly showing quite a few amoral roles , corruption , badness and despicable acts of pure evil carried out by the violent protagonists as well as the ruthless contenders . While the look is suitable sinister and intriguing, the plot spreads to the surprising breaking point , including an unexpected final that turns out to be extremely stirring . There stands out Nicolas Cage giving his usual but acceptable interpretation as a relentless avenger father who broken by pain , rage and impotence attempts to seek the nasty agressors and exact a merciless vendetta by using terrible and cruel tortures . As the reformed ex-delinquent seeks his own brand of justice , as he acts as revenger judge , jury and executioner , Charles Bronson-alike . Nicolas Cage hired filmmaker Paco Cabezas , because being a huge fan of Carne de neón (2010), Paco Cabezas' second movie and the one who caught the attention of Hollywood . Here the veteran Nicolas Cage is well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Rachel Nichols as his wife , Max Ryan , Michael McGrady , Peter Stormare , Pasha Lychnikoff and special mention for the forgotten Danny Glover as Det. Peter St. John .

It packs an atmospheric and adequate cinematography by Andrzej Sekula , who has also shot some fims ,being filmed in Mobile, Alabama . As well as a moving and sensitive musical score by Laurent Eyquem . This decent production is a thriller/revenge competently directed by Pablo Cabezas . His first feature length Project was ¨Aparecidos¨ (2007) a terror Spanish/Argentina film . Paco is a good screen-writer such as ¨Bon Appetit¨ (2010) , ¨Spanish movie¨(2009) , ¨Sexy killer¨(2008) and a notorious filmmaker , especially known for Carne Neón (2010), , being subsequently hired by Hollywood/Nicolas Cage , where directed Tokarev (2014) . Furthermore , he is filmmaking ¨Men with No Fear¨ and ¨Mr. Right¨ in post-production . And shooting some episodes of popular series as Penny Dreadful (TV Series) , Fear of walking dead , The strain , Into the badlands , among others .Rating : 6.5/10 . Acceptable and passable . The motion picture will appeal to Nicolas Cage fans and thriller buffs .

It sums up the movie.

That particular character is what the movie ultimately turned into. A bloated, dull and brooding mess, excused by a final plot twist that basically negates the entire movie, making you feel even more like you've waisted your time because it was all for nothing. Kind of the classic ending where the characters just wakes up in his bed and the credit roll, except this time it's not cute but overdone like the dream ending, it's just trite and offensive.

Let me tell you, no one in their right mind would conduct an "investigation" this way : Call up your friends and shoot up the town. A ridiculous method which leaves our friend to spend an alarming amount of time screaming at dead people's face for clues about the whereabouts of his daughter's killers. Not very effective for a once feared crook who retired. It feels more like a hot headed rookie trying to impress a mob boss by blowing up everything in sight and then trying to beat answers out of corpses.

And the always calm, coffee sipping policeman to walk on screen and tell our friend to "stop killing people because I'm gonna have to eventually arrest you." And walks out.

Another crucial moment here, get this : They call their friend all like "It's going down so get ready for some wild stuff" so he's like "Alright guys, let me break out my brass knuckles" and then he walks to the side of the street and punches air with his brass knuckles as if he is practicing breaking jaws while waiting for his friends to pick him up. This is a 70's comedy slapstick moment amidst a criminally dulled out rethink of taken.

This moment is when I realized that this character punching around to look tough, is the movie. The movie walks out with brass knuckles and starts punching around while waiting for the script to kick in, and when it does it's so flat that the movie stops caring, indulges in strippers and is ultimately killed by Nick Cage. This character is the movie, metaphorically.

I think that's what the movie was about, it's genius.