Dominique

When I stumbled upon this 2024 action thriller titled "Dominique", I was intrigued. Sure, I had never heard about the movie, but there was just something about the cover that worked for me.

The storyline in the movie was pretty straightforward, sort of in the spirit of the action movies of the 1980s and 1990s, where it is one man, well in this case woman, against a large group of highly-trained professionals. I will say that writers Michael S. Ojeda and Oksana Orlan, with the latter also starring in the movie, actually put together an enjoyable and entertaining enough script. I was adequately entertained throughout the course of the 100 minutes that the movie ran for. Sure, the narrative was sort of predictable, up to the end, where director Michael S. Ojeda takes the movie and gives it a rather unforeseen twist. I liked that.

The acting performances in the movie were fair, but leading actress Oksana Orlan sort of put on a performances with a wooden face, showing little or no emotions. I hope that the character was written to be that way, otherwise it was a lousy acting performance. While I was not familiar with actors Maurice Compte and Sebastián Carvajal, they really spruced up the movie with their performances.

There is a good amount of action to supplement the rather basic and straightforward narrative, so that worked out well enough.

I have to say, though, that "Dominique" is a movie that certainly is watchable once, but it has absolutely zero replay vale to it. If you enjoy action thrillers, give director Michael S. Ojeda's 2024 movie "Dominique" a chance if you have the opportunity.

My rating of "Dominique" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Film Review: Dominique (2025)

Dominique is the kind of action thriller that doesn't shy away from its roots-it's loud, fast, and packed with the kind of relentless, no-frills action that will either have you grinning or groaning, depending on your expectations. This modestly-budgeted film promises exactly what it delivers: a barrage of bullets, an explosion of noise, and a plot as predictable as the sunrise. If you go in expecting a complex narrative or a twisty, cerebral story, you'll quickly be disappointed. But if you're after a no-holds-barred, action-packed ride, then Dominique is likely to satisfy.

The plot is familiar, perhaps even stale, featuring a lone hero seeking revenge in a city rife with crime and corruption. The characters are little more than one-dimensional stereotypes, and the dialogue isn't exactly destined for the history books. But let's be clear-Dominique isn't pretending to be anything it's not. It's a straightforward action film that never tries to reinvent the wheel, but certainly does its best to keep the wheel spinning at full speed.

Critics, as expected, have panned the film for being formulaic and predictable, with audiences on IMDb marking it down for exactly the same reasons: bullets, noise, and a lack of surprises. However, I find myself more generous in my assessment. In a genre that often seems weighed down by pretensions or overcomplicated storylines, Dominique feels like a breath of fresh air. It's unapologetically what it is, and for that, it deserves a little credit. If you're in the mood to turn your brain off for 90 minutes, watch some bullets fly, and enjoy some decent stunts, this film might just hit the spot.

Sure, the acting isn't award-winning, and the plot isn't going to make anyone think deeply, but if you're not expecting Citizen Kane and just want a bit of entertainment, Dominique delivers exactly that. If you happen to doze off halfway through, don't worry-you haven't missed much, but you'll still have had a decent, if unremarkable, time. A perfect choice for when you just need a quick, mindless action fix.

Rating: 6/10-A solid, if predictable, action movie that doesn't promise more than it can deliver.

Nothing in the movie mattered. You should go do anything else with your time. Literally anything else would be better than the time spent watching this. From beginning to end, nothing changed. Still don't know anything about the protagonist. People died. Nobody cared

There was no character growth. There was no progress. There was nothing worth watching here.

Stories are supposed to have a point. There was no point to this, other than dead bodies. I guess if one counted the bodies hitting the floor maybe there was a tiny point. But that's it.

Did any of the dialog matter? Nope. Did any of the action matter, except to further the body count? Nope.

Pointless violence with pointless death.

This movie is as poignant as it is violent. The action will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time while you become attached to the characters. The director really pulled that off. It does leave you wanting to know a lot more about Dominique and her past. I assume this was done to make us want a sequel! The actress is great. Her anger is so genuine that you feel it too. The landscape looked so good on film that I now want to visit Colombia. There are pivotal action scenes that made me wonder how the filming was done so well because I doubt there were tons of effects or cgi. Definitely worth a second watch.

This movie had the potential to be a standout revenge thriller, but unfortunately, it falls short in several key areas. The lead actor delivers a solid performance, showing promise in the role, but the film's direction fails to capitalize on that strength. The supporting characters, on the other hand, often overact and can be grating, detracting from the film's overall tone.

The ending is especially disappointing. Revenge movies are defined by their climactic finales, that moment of catharsis and justice, but here, it feels like the filmmakers ran out of time-or budget-before they could deliver a satisfying resolution. The lack of a powerful, emotional payoff is a major letdown for fans of the genre.

That said, there's one bright spot: Oksana Orlan. She shows real potential as an action star, and with a stronger supporting cast and a larger budget, she could truly shine in this genre.

Ultimately, this movie misses the mark, but with a few key improvements, it could have been something special.