Ballistic

Ballistic 2024 is an insult to cinema, plagued by appalling production values that scream amateur hour. The camera work is erratic, with jarring angles and shaky shots that make it unbearable to watch. The sound is equally atrocious-dialogue is drowned out by deafening, poorly mixed effects, while the color grading is so murky it looks like someone smeared mud on the lens. Direction? Nonexistent. Scenes drag without purpose, and the pacing is torturous. This film isn't just bad-it's a catastrophe. The director should enroll in film school immediately. If Martin Scorsese saw this he'd perish. Avoid this mess at all costs.

It's hard to find anything bad to say about Ballistic . The action is beautifully choreographed, the setup is surprisingly emotional for an action flick, and the two opposing guys , Beck war torn and beautifully played with a tenderness and Butch , a homage to the bad guys of the 90's and reminds me a little of scarface with more of an edge to him ....both unknown but worthy of watching .

A very simple but good revenge story. But what makes it special?

Unlike today's action movies, it doesn't use quick-cuts or shaky cameras actually see what's going on. Plus it has a really good , sometimes disturbing storyline .

It's always great to see an indie movie made on a budget of next to nothing make it to the big screen.

Ballistic stars a virtually unknown cast but please do not let that stop you from going to watch it.

The action sequences were strong and brutal as well as the violence but also levelled out by the quiet moments, especially the lead David Lamont , reflecting on his choices in life . It brought a humbleness to his character that was only displaced (in a good way ) by his act of vengeance.

His nemesis, James Bryhan was equally as powerful with his performance, balancing out a dark vs light between the two leads.

The acting overall was very good by the rest of the cast and kept me interested in the final outcome , which was something I would never have expected. David and James led the film equal to any box office Hollywood production.

The writer and director Ranjeet Marwa has proven himself to be the next Rodriquez with his storytelling and visual sense of style .

James Bryhan Butcher Hawke

Bryhan delivers a chilling, masterclass portrayal of the sadistic mob boss known as Butcher. His every appearance crackles with menace-as if violence itself is lurking beneath his skin. He commands every scene with a bone deep authority, his voice and presence evoking classic cinematic villains while maintaining an original, unnerving equilibrium. Bryhan's performance is the film's heartbeat dark, unpredictable, and absolutely magnetic David Lamont Beck

In his first lead role, Lamont explores Beck, a haunted, homeless veteran thrust into a spiral of rage and guilt. Lamont brings authenticity and depth, navigating grief and fury with a quiet yet powerful vulnerability. Beck's downward journey is compelling, and Lamont makes you feel every scar of his battlefield past and personal anguish

Verdict

Ballistic doesn't just fire on all cylinders it drills down into the emotional core of revenge. The plot driven by Lamont's quest and fueled by Bryhan's brutal presence is strong, taut, and hard hitting. Every showdown between these two actors feels charged, unpredictable, and dangerously real.

Highlight's Bryhan's portrayal stands shoulder to shoulder with iconic film antagonists an unforgettable, layered villain.

Lamont's emotional resonance provides a strong, empathetic anchor to the chaos.

In summary, Ballistic stands out in the thriller genre precisely because of its lead performances. James Bryhan embodies the terrifying gravity of evil, while David Lamont brings a trembling humanity to the path of vengeance. Their onscreen collision makes this more than just a revenge story it's a psychological duel that lingers long after the credits roll.

If you're craving a raw, character driven thriller with performances that refuse to let go, Ballistic delivers in spades.

I went to see ballistic at my local vue cinema after hearing all the good things about it across social media. I wasn't disappointed. Great storyline of revenge with the good guy David Lamont displaying a man suffering in turmoil and loss. Looking for redemption for guilt of the loss of his sister . Lamonts portrayal was subtle and in those moments when he had to fight , he showed an animalistic side showing the range of his personality. He was well matched against his nemesis The Butcher portrayed by James Bryhan . Bryhan took the role and made me despise his actions and thoughts. An extremely strong character with such a mean stare in his eyes reminding me of those old black and white movies . The ying yang of the same coin , both Lamont and Bryhan bounced of each other so well , I wish they had met earlier on in the movie . The cast were talented and the performance of the young prostitute Poppy was brilliant.

If you're a fan of movies like Taken , then this one's for you .