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Recoil (2011 film)

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Recoil
Directed byTerry Miles
Written byJohn Sullivan
Produced byJack Nasser
Starring
CinematographyBruce Chun
Edited by
  • Trevor Mirosh
  • Gordon Rempel
Music byKevin Belen
Release date
  • March 6, 2012 (2012-03-06)
[1]
Running time
94 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Recoil is a 2011 Canadian action film directed by Terry Miles and starring Steve Austin and Danny Trejo. The film premiered on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on March 6, 2011, and in its native Canada on March 13, 2012.[2] The film is about a cop turns vigilante after his family has been murdered, exacting vengeance on the killers and then on all criminals who have slipped through the system.

Plot

Ryan Varrett (Steve Austin), is an ex-cop determined to avenge the murder of his family. In 2009, when Ryan was a cop in Dallas, Texas, his wife Constance Marie Varrett (Rebecca Robbins) and 9-year-old son Matt Ryan Varrett (Connor Stanhope) were viciously killed by a gang. Ryan survived the assault and killed three of the gang.

However, Ryan quits the Dallas police and hits the road to find everyone else responsible for the deaths of his loved ones. Special Agent Frank Sutton (Lochlyn Munro) of the FBI's Seattle office is investigating the deaths of criminals.

After killing a rapist named Dale James Burrows (Roman Podhora), Ryan ends up in the small town of Hope, Washington, where a gas station owner named Kirby (Patrick Gilmore) directs Ryan to a tiny hotel run by a woman named Darcy (Serinda Swan). Ryan finds Rex Ray Santiago (Noel Gugliemi), a member of the gang that attacked Ryan's family.

It turns out that Hope is under the control of the Circle, a drug and arms dealing biker gang led by Rex's brother, Drayke Santiago (Danny Trejo), who is on the ATF's most wanted list. Sheriff Cole (Tom McBeath) is in Drayke's pocket, so Ryan has only himself and Darcy to depend on.

Ryan kills Rex, Drayke declares war on Ryan, and the town of Hope becomes a battleground. It turns out that Drayke masterminded the shooting of Ryan's family members, and the families of other cops who years ago sent him to prison, where he was brutalized. Drayke got even with the prisoners who brutalized him, then got even with the cops who put him away.

After Kirby is killed by Crab (Keith Jardine), Drayke's right-hand man, Sutton arrives in town, and Cole tries to convince him that Rex's death was an accident. Cole thinks that by appeasing the bikers, he is protecting the town from more bloodshed. Ryan finds Crab and burns him to death.

Since Cole is not much help, Sutton goes to Cole's son, Deputy Hedge (Adam Greydon Reid), who is not in Drayke's pocket. Hedge explains that a long-time ago, the Circle used to protect the town. That was before Drayke took over and started running guns. Rex provided Drayke with a recipe for meth, and Drayke and his gang started selling drugs too.

However, Drayke and his gang are arming themselves for all-out war against Ryan, and they don't care whom they have to kill. At night, Darcy hears bikers approaching her hotel. Ryan kills the three bikers. Outside, more bikers grab Darcy and beat Ryan up.

On the next day, Ryan has been taken to Drayke, and some of his men bring Darcy into the room. Darcy is held tied up with tape on her mouth. They're on an abandoned ferry boat that Drayke uses as his headquarters. Drayke leaves his man Prospect (Tygh Runyan) to beat Ryan up. Ryan breaks free from his restraints and takes care of Prospect. Ryan overcomes Drayke's men, finds Darcy who is tied to a chair and gagged with tape. Deputy Hedge goes to his father's house and finds Cole has shot himself. With Sutton's help Hedge plans to go after Drayke.

Ryan remembers Drayke being present during the attack on his family. Until Ryan came to Hope, Drayke thought Ryan was dead. Ryan and Drayke start fighting. A shot kills Drayke. It was Sutton who fired the shot. Darcy decides that she's going to stay in Hope, and Sutton decides to not arrest Ryan. Hedge becomes the new sheriff. Ryan decides to leave town, but promises Darcy that he will send her a postcard to let her know where he is.

Cast

  • Steve Austin as Ryan Varrett
  • Serinda Swan as Darcy
  • Danny Trejo as Drayke Santiago
  • Keith Jardine as Crab
  • Lochlyn Munro as Agent Frank Sutton
  • Noel Gugliemi as Rex Santiago
  • Adam Greydon Reid as Deputy Hedge
  • Tom McBeath as Sheriff Cole
  • Patrick Gilmore as Kirby
  • Tygh Runyan as The Prospect
  • Rebecca Robbins as Connie Varrett
  • Connor Stanhope as Matt Varrett
  • Roman Podhora as Dale Burrows
  • Daniel Boileau as Frank
  • Jase Anthony Griffith as Lou
  • Robin Nielsen as Agent Ray Davies
  • J. Douglas Stewart as LT Carver
  • Patrick Sabongui as Jester

Illegal downloading

In 2012, Canadian judge ruled in favour of Recoil's production company, NGN Prima Production, and ordered internet service providers to reveal the names and addresses of people who had allegedly downloaded the film illegally. This is the only recently made possible due to changes in Canadian law, making it the first lawsuit of its kind in the country.[3] The further developments include one of the involved internet service providers filing the motion opposing disclosure of the customers information.[4]

Reception

Recoil has received moderately positive reviews with critics noting, to varying degrees of appreciation, its departure from the flashier style seen in many contemporary action films. Luke Hickman of High Def Digest called its revenge storyline a throwback to a "not so awesome past",[5]. Jeffrey Kauffman of blu-ray.com was unenthusiastic about the film's themes, but gave it moderate praise for its non-linear structure.[6]. Jason Rugaard of Movie Mavericks felt that "the story hangs together better than most in the genre". [7]

David J. Moore, author of the book The Good, the Tough & the Deadly: Action Movies & Stars, called it Austin's best film, pointing to John Sullivan's "surprisingly smart" script and director Miles' "assured" direction.[8] R. Emmet Sweeney, a writer for Film Comment and Filmmaker, concurred and praised Miles' "measured pacing and clear lines".[9] Kauffman disagreed, calling Recoil "competent" but devoid of truly exciting action scenes.[6] Chad Cruise of Bulletproof Action similarly found the film unspectacular yet easy to watch.[10]

Genre film critic Vern enjoyed Austin's performance, elements of which harkened back to his classic "Stone Cold" persona.[11] Matt Paprocki of doblu.com countered that Austin's character path was "aimless and dry".[12] Several reviewers pointed to the villains' lack of charisma, with Rugaard writing that Danny Trejo—who was 67 at the time of filming—appeared too old for some of the physical confrontations his character engages in.[7]

Accolades

In a poll of seventeen genre film pundits hosted by website The Action Elite, Recoil was ranked 46th of the "Top 50 Action Gems of the 2010–2019 Decade".[8] In 2012, the film received a Leo Award for Best Stunt Coordination (Feature Film) from the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia.[13]

Year Award Category Subject Result
2012 Leo Awards Best Stunt Coordination – Feature Length Drama Won Lauro Chartrand[14]

Home media

Nasser Entertainment released the film on DVD and Blu-ray in the US on March 6, 2012.[15] Entertainment One released in the UK on April 16, 2012.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Recoil: Releases". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Recoil: Releases". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ^ Company tracks illegal downloading of 1 million Canadians
  4. ^ Distributel Fights Back Against Motion to Disclose Subscriber Information in File Sharing Case
  5. ^ Hickman, Luke (18 March 2012). "Recoil". highdefdigest.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kauffman, Jeffrey (10 March 2012). "Recoil Blu-ray Review". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b Rugaard, Jason (12 January 2013). "Recoil (2011) – Review". moviemavericks.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "The Top 50 Action Gems of the Decade – 50-41". the actionelite.com. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. ^ Sweeney, R. Emmet (3 February 2020). "DTV Action Items Part 2: Intro to Stone Cold Steve Austin studies". r-emmetsweeney.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ^ Cruise, Chad (2 July 2019). "Bullet Points: Recoil (2011)". bulletproofaction.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Recoil". outlawvern.com. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. ^ Paprocki, Matt (15 February 2012). "Recoil (2011) Review". doblu.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  13. ^ Andrew (29 May 2012). "2012 Leo Awards". stuntscanada.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  14. ^ "2012 Leo Awards Nominees & Winners" (PDF). 26 May 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Recoil". IGN. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  16. ^ "Win Recoil on DVD". HeyUGuys.com. April 16, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
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