Lights Out

So ok, this is clearly not high cinema, but it is still quite entertaining. Yes, if you're here for Scott Atkins, you will be disappointed. That doesnt take away from this movie, and especially Frank Grillo, the guy is a total badass. Plus, you have Mekkhi Pfeifer and Dermot Mulroney, who have unfortunately dropped into the B movie scene, but that doesnt change the fact that they are solid actors that were at one point part of A movies. This movie is very much on par with your typical 80s or 90s mindless action movies. If you were a fan of those, you'll be a fan of this. So if you want some nostalgic simple, cliched action, give this a go.

Did you ever wonder who green-lights these scripts? The answer is, you wouldn't want to know who, or even how, because it would make you weep for the lost opportunity to make a proper film. Decades later, and the industry still has not grasped precisely what makes these films exciting, fun to watch, and profitable -- ie, the gradual escalation, growing anticipation, of the fights entirely for their own sake. Trying to complicate the story with hard drama or useless plot arcs is the fast track to ... nowhere. To see this done right, check out Charles Bronson in HARD TIMES 1975 (still works well a full half-century later!); or the surprise hit WARRIOR 2011, which coincidentally leads my IMDb list of best films. Frank Grillo at age 58 can still command the screen. But he deserves so much better than this. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

B movies should be fun and entertaining not trying to do Martin Scorcese. And why cast Scott Adkins if you're going to use him for five minutes?

There are at least ten different plots going on and none of them are good. Even the fight scenes are weak. Mekhi Pfeifer looks like he's been on a cheeseburger and pizza diet and Jaime King's hair is laugh out loud ridiculous.

This movie fails on every level. 85 minutes feels like three hours. This is a complete embarrassment for all involved. The director straight up steals the Jet Li Romeo Must Die X-Ray punch effects. And where did the 7 million budget go? Garbage.

Frank Grillo as a badass with impossible hair. Even after he slept he woke up with perfect hair? Little details, make a difference.

I didn't watch much of the trailer and did not realize that's based on "fight club", cage brawling.

The characters had potential, particularly the main baddies , but it all goes down like a dud firecracker.

Some of the plot at first was not so cohesive, for example, wondering who that guy was who was rummaging through that ladies house, only to find out that was her boyfriend? Very unlikely looking pair.

At the end of it all what I wanted to see was more of Scott Adkins who was barely in it. This was a Frank Grillo movie.

I came to see Scott, but it's not what I got.

So so film that lacked originality, suspense and true gripping action.

Lights out goes through well worn action territory. Drifter Duffy (Frank Grillo) gets ripped off in a poker game at a bar in LA. After using his fists he comes to the attention of Max (Mekhi Phifer.)

He wants to manage Duffy for underground fight clubs. As an unknown quantity, Duffy is an ex army veteran with PTSD. Max who has recently been released from prison hopes to make money on the betting that takes place.

Only both men fall foul of corrupt cops who run the underground fights with gangster Sage (Dermot Mulroney.)

When Max's niece is injured by the baddies. Both go after them hard. Duffy also calls in ex army buddy 'The Reaper' Scott Adkins.

The action scenes are the best selling point for the movie. Not over the top. It helps that Grillo has the a acting chops for the quieter scenes. There is a strategic guest cameo from Adkins.