Ruthless

Director:** Art Camacho **Cast:** Dermot Mulroney, Melissa Diaz, Jeff Fahey, Mauricio Mendoza **Genre:** Action/Thriller

**Synopsis:** "Ruthless" tells the story of Harry, a high school wrestling coach played by Dermot Mulroney, who is grieving the brutal murder of his teenage daughter. When one of his students, Catia, is kidnapped by a human trafficking ring, Harry takes justice into his own hands, determined to rescue her and dismantle the trafficking operation. The plot of "Ruthless" is built on a foundation of personal loss and vengeance, reminiscent of films like "Taken." Despite its promising premise, the film suffers from weak and clichéd writing. The dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, detracting from the overall impact of the story. The narrative struggles to find its footing, leading to a somewhat predictable and derivative storyline.

Art Camacho, known for his work in low-budget action films, directs "Ruthless" with a focus on gritty realism. However, the film's production quality leaves much to be desired. The budget constraints are evident in the lack of polished action sequences and overall production design. The movie's tone and pacing are inconsistent, with significant lulls between the action scenes that fail to build adequate suspense

**Performances:** Dermot Mulroney delivers a committed performance as Harry, bringing a palpable sense of grief and determination to his character. However, his efforts are not enough to elevate the film above its shortcomings. Melissa Diaz, as Catia, also provides a noteworthy performance, though her character is not fully developed, often falling into stereotypical victim tropes. Jeff Fahey's portrayal of the villainous Dale Remington is serviceable but lacks depth.

**Action and Cinematography:** The action sequences, while present, are sparse and lack the intensity typically expected in a revenge thriller. When action does occur, it is often clunky and poorly choreographed, diminishing the film's potential impact. The cinematography fails to create the necessary atmosphere, often appearing flat and uninspired.

**Themes and Messages:** "Ruthless" attempts to tackle serious issues such as human trafficking and the quest for justice. While the film's intentions are commendable, its execution leaves much to be desired. The thematic exploration feels superficial, and the film does not engage deeply enough with its subject matter to leave a lasting impression.

**Overall:** "Ruthless" is a film with a compelling premise that ultimately falls short due to weak writing, inconsistent direction, and subpar production values. While Dermot Mulroney's performance is a highlight, it is not enough to overcome the film's numerous flaws. Fans of the action-thriller genre might find some moments of interest, but overall, "Ruthless" struggles to stand out in a crowded field.

Why did I watch this? That is what I kept asking myself as this very predictable revenge "thriller" rolled on. I know why, I paid my 4 dollars to Amazon Prime and if I paid for it I'm going to watch it. Well, truth be told, didn't watch the whole thing, my finger was on the fast forward button.

It was loaded with bad writing, bad acting and waayy too predictable.

All Dermot had was breaking bones?! I mean, come on, everybody gets at least one bone broken. The title of this terrible flick should have been the Bone Breaker.

Now, I am going to have to watch something really good to wash the taste out of mouth, like Poor Things.

"Ruthless" is an adrenaline-fueled action film that will keep you entertained from start to finish. The movie delivers some jaw-dropping fight scenes and intense violence that action enthusiasts will love. The choreography of the fights is top-notch, and the visual effects add an extra layer of excitement. However, while the action is impressive, the plot can be a bit predictable at times. Some twists and turns could have elevated the story and made it more engaging. Nevertheless, the strong performances from the cast, especially the lead actor, bring depth to their characters and make the film enjoyable to watch. The cinematography is also worth mentioning, as it captures the gritty atmosphere of the movie perfectly. Overall, "Ruthless" is a solid action flick with great action sequences, although it could have benefited from a more original storyline. I'd give it a solid 6 stars out of 10! 🌟🎥

...Sometimes you lose. Movies like this are not Oscar winners. Or really winners at all. However, they serve an important purpose of a palate cleanser. As of late, many movies are met with harsh criticism as "the worst ever" or "so awful I couldn't finish." Those reviewers have not had the pleasure of seeing this film.

Ruthless was just that. Ruthless on my sense of coherency, Ruthless on my eyes. The films saving grace was in that it can stand as an example and a learning moment.

Dermot Mulroney carries this film on his back. In a flurry of poorly delivered, poorly expressed and flatly read lines, he adds some depth where depth is needed. Beyond his laconic grieving father figure, the movie cannot decide if it is a thriller, a drama, an action comedy, or a revenge flick. This lack of direction forces the audience to look at every glaring plot hole and inconsistency with even more confusion. I can forgive the lack of logic in a for fun movie, but not in a serious movie.

If you are looking for something to fill time, you can see 60% of this movie and still understand it. If you are looking to be inspired, turn back. If you are a filmmaker or student, watch this and take extensive notes. Then do the opposite.

Dermot Mulroney is excellent in the lead role. Enjoyable throwback (with modern theme) to some of the classic action/revenge type movies enjoyed in the 90's.

At times the dialogue feels a little clunky but that comes with the territory, still ok. A little dry humor mixed in between the serious moments worked.

I didn't expect to enjoy this but i absolutely did and the ending was satisfying (very different to what i usually watch with grim, unresolved or unspecified endings). Would i recommend to others? Probably depending on people's taste.

Recently watched Dermot in another role as a support (bad guy) did not do him justice as this film has.