Writer/Director Mark Williams ('Honest Thief') reunites with Liam Neeson ('Honest Thief', 'The Marksman') to deliver yet another action-packed adventure with the new political/revenge thriller ‘Blacklight’.
Filmed in Australia in late 2020, ‘Blacklight’ sees Neeson play troubled FBI fixer Travis Block, who has spent the last 20 years risking his life to rescue undercover agents in trouble. When he uncovers a deadly conspiracy, Block’s unwavering faith in the system is tested and he finds himself locked in a race against time to uncover the truth before he (and his family) become the next victims.
Liam delivers another strong performance as a man who takes no prisoners when it comes to protecting those he loves and while the acting veteran seemed to be struggling with some of the physical demands of his role, Liam’s formidable screen presence meant Travis was just as menacing wielding a mobile phone or a business card as he was a gun. Your stereotypical compatriot, Travis is struggling to reconcile his morally questionable past with his newfound desire to be more involved with his family and this ongoing battle becomes the emotional heart of the film. There is a lovable vulnerability hidden behind Travis’s hardened exterior and unusual quirks, and Liam’s performance brings this to the surface brilliantly.
Emmy Raver-Lampman delivers an enjoyable performance as determined young journalist Mira Jones who finds herself unwittingly drawn into Travis’s dangerous world, while Taylor John Smith stars as fellow agent Dusty Crane. Aidan Quinn plays Travis’s boss and lifelong friend Gabriel Robinson while Australian actress Claire Van Der Boom stars as Travis’s daughter Amanda. Young actress Gabriella Sengos delivers a sweet performance as Travis’s granddaughter Natalie and the relationship between the two is beautiful to watch.
While ‘Blacklight’ features fewer action sequences than viewers are used to seeing in a Liam Neeson film, each one is pivotal to the story and has been perfectly crafted to deliver an adrenaline-filled rush without the use of gratuitous violence and destruction. Writer/Director Mark expertly uses the films political sub-themes to build tension between his characters and often the threat of violence is just as entertaining as the car chases and gun fights.
While the underlying concept of an unwavering patriot being betrayed/forced to question their values is by no means original, Mark takes this tried and tested story and makes it his own, with a cleverly crafted script which fuses political intrigue with themes of redemption and family to create an exciting and emotionally charged film.
‘Blacklight’ is in cinemas now.
