To be 100% honest, when I sat down to watch The Retaliators, I wasn’t expecting much. Why? Because damn near every horror movie packed with stars is usually overcompensating for a shit script. Guys, I was so wrong about this movie.
But let’s start at the beginning, The Retaliators has not one, not two, but three directors, Samuel Gonzalez Jr, Michael Lombardi, and Bridget Smith. It was written by Darren Geare and Jeff Allen Geare. It’s amazing that the movie is so seamless with that many cooks in the kitchen, if you know what I mean.
The cast for the film is massive and features both well-known actors such as Michael Lombardi, Marc Menchaca
Marc Menchaca, Joseph Gatt, and Katie Kelly, among others, and musicians in acting roles such as Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Ivan Moody (Five Finger Death Punch), and Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach).
Folks, let me tell you, the soundtrack is worth watching the movie for all on its own, but there are plenty of other reasons to watch it too. This is an “edge-of-your-seat,” intense, brutal movie that will have you feeling all kinds of emotions and will leave you with a lot of things to think about when the credits roll, the sign of a great film. The story is fantastic and fresh. This isn’t one of those movies with a recycled plot that you’ve seen again and again. It comes with a major twist that will likely blindside you. It’s unexpected and is such a fantastic choice. It hooks you in right from the get-go. I didn’t even pick up my phone for the entire run time, which is a very rare thing.
Looking for gore? This film’s got it, but it’s limited and very deliberately done. It’s not gory just for the gore, it’s only used in certain scenes which makes it even more impactful. And it’s all very well done.
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie, not just because of the story, the acting, or the killer soundtrack, but also because in a world drowning in horror movies (not that that’s a bad thing) The Retaliators sets itself apart. You can feel the filmmakers and the cast’s passion and that translates to the screen. They went all in and it made me want to go all in too.
The Retaiators surprised me in so many ways, from the way it seamlessly combines emotion, action, and horror, in a perfectly timed dance, to the unexpected way that the story evolves. It is no doubt one of the best horror films of the year!
If you watch one movie this month, make it The Retaliators. The movie is out on September 14, 2022.
