THE OUTSIDER
(director/writer: Brian A. Miller; screenwriter: Craig Fairbrass; cinematographer: Eduardo Enrique Mayén; editor: Bob Mori; music: Holeg Spies/Patrick Savage; cast: James Caan (Schuuster), Craig Fairbrass (Lex Walker), Jason Patric (Detective Klein), Shannon Elizabeth (Margo), Johnny Messner (Ricky), William deVry (Nick Miller), Melissa Ordway (Samantha); Runtime: 94; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Christine & Mark Holder; RLJ Entertainment/Image Entertainment; 2014)
“A futile attempt to emulate the box office success of Taken.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A futile attempt to emulate the box office success of Taken, that starts out bearable but soon goes off into far-fetched territory to perhaps go down in flames like America’s long-running War in Afghanistan. Writer-director Brian A. Miller(“Caught in the Crossfire”/”House of the Rising Sun“) works from the story by Craig Fairbrass, the action film’s hulking but lacking in charisma Brit star. Fairbrass‘s OK for the action sequences, but limited as a thespian. The thriller manages to disappoint with its not too fresh derivative story and its overall unenthusiastic acting.
When British military contractor Lex Walker (Craig Fairbrass) learns his estranged daughter Samantha (Melissa Ordway) died in Afghanistan from an overdose, he then discovers that the body he brought back to Los Angeles is not hers. Lex investigates by going on a military-style rescue mission in LA, using his military contractor skills. This leads to shoot-outs with thugs who come out of the shadows and Lex looking down on the detective work of veteran LA Detective Klein (Jason Patric). LA gets turned inside and out by the bad ass Lex and all the clues lead to the wealthy but crooked internet entrepreneur Schuuster (James Caan). He’s a baddie senior citizen corporate dude, who previously employed Lex’s daughter. The leaden Lex eventually kicks enough ass to discovers his daughter’s disappearance involves something to do with cyber crimes and an identity-theft ring.
There’s nothing in this poorly made film to hold your interest so that you actually care what happens, and that’s not a good thing for a film.
REVIEWED ON 2/6/2014 GRADE: C- https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/