Ruthless (2023), directed by Art Camacho, is a revenge thriller that follows a high school coach (Dermot Mulroney) whose life is shattered after his teenage daughter is murdered. The film explores his descent into vigilante justice as he takes matters into his own hands to track down the men responsible for her death and their involvement in a human trafficking operation. While the film's premise holds promise, it ultimately feels formulaic and lacks the emotional weight necessary to elevate it beyond typical genre fare.
Dermot Mulroney delivers a serviceable performance as the grieving father-turned-avenger, but his character is not given enough depth to fully engage with the audience. The emotional core of the film, which centers around his relationship with his daughter and his motivations for revenge, is undermined by the lack of meaningful development. The supporting cast, including Jeff Fahey and Mauricio Mendoza, add little to the film's emotional depth, and their performances are often overshadowed by the film's action-oriented focus.
The direction and pacing follow a predictable trajectory, with the film leaning heavily on action scenes and confrontation rather than delving into the psychological complexities of the characters. While the film does deliver some intense moments, these scenes feel mechanical and lack the emotional resonance that could have made the narrative more compelling. The central themes of justice, vengeance, and the cost of personal loss are not explored with enough nuance to make the film feel truly impactful.
Visually, Ruthless is unremarkable, with standard cinematography that doesn't do much to distinguish the film from other revenge thrillers. The script is also lacking in originality, relying too heavily on well-worn tropes of the genre, which results in a predictable and somewhat tiresome experience.
While Ruthless may appeal to fans of vigilante justice films, it ultimately falls short in terms of emotional depth and narrative innovation. It's a competent thriller but one that doesn't offer much beyond the basics of its genre.
Rating: 4/10. A predictable revenge thriller with limited emotional depth and a lack of fresh ideas to make it stand out.
