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"The Keeper" is better than most Steven Seagal Direct to Video films (but not as good as any of his theatrical films from back in the day, of course). I mean, anyone who says this is a downturn in quality obviously never saw "Kill Switch" or "Out for a Kill," "Today You Die," or any of the other Seagal DTVs that were so re-dubbed, re-edited, and filled with stock action sequences cut-and-pasted from other films that they were totally incomprehensible. At least "The Keeper" had a basic story you could follow and made sense overall. It's almost at the level of lower tier action flicks like Charles Bronson's "Evil Men Do," or Burt Reynold's "Malone" (and about at the level of Van Damme's "Border Patrol"). Serviceable vehicles for aging action stars. And the film has a tiny bit of Seagal-dubbing at the opening, a few lame supporting performances, and some minor continuity and plot hole problems--the usual for super low budget action flicks. But the leading lady is pretty good--delivers her lines well and is sexy in that gangly, puppet-ish Scarlette Johanssen way). And the guy that plays her dad is channeling Levon Helm, so that's OK. The film's opening, where cop Seagal is shot and then has to train his way back to fighting health, is pretty good, but seems to be from a different movie; none of the characters it introduces appear later on in the movie (in fact, the opening incident isn't even mentioned later on). I suspect that the best parts of two not-that-great screenplays were melded together.

But the really WEIRD error in this otherwise workmanlike flick is that Seagal's character's name, Rolland Sallinger, changes halfway through to Rolland BALLINGER! Just out of nowhere, one of the other actors start calling him "Ballinger" instead of "Sallinger"! This is both the kind of thing you'd expect in a Seagal DTV, given that they are often slapdash, but also exactly what you wouldn't expect! I mean, Seagal's DTVs are notorious for the re-dubbing of dialog and the makers of The Keeper opted not to re-dubb dialog in a case where it actually would have made sense to do so!

All in all, though, this is a passable 90 minutes entertainment for fans of the giant, middle-aged, whispering bada$$ we all secretly love.

I think that even if there are still fans of Steven Seagal out there, they will agree that he doesn't seem to care anymore about how he appears in his movies, or the quality of the other parts of his movies. Oh, I admit "A Dangerous Man" was decent, but that was despite him, not because of him. In "The Keeper", he returns to the kind of movies he's been churning out ever since he moved to direct-to-video movies. He seems half asleep as he speaks his (limited) dialogue, and his puffy face and baggy clothing show he's in great need of going on a diet. But he's not the only one to blame for this movie's downfall. There is very little action in the first hour of this movie, and when the movie does get around to showing some action, it's often directed and edited in such a frenzy that it's impossible to figure out what's going on. While I'm speaking of an actor who doesn't care, I'd like to state that I don't care to see another Steven Seagal movie anytime in the future.

And so Steven Seagal continues his prolific career in straight-to-video product with THE KEEPER, another film completely indistinguishable from the dozens he's made since evacuating our cinema screens back in the 1990s. It's a completely serviceable movie that plays out as a string of action sequences well executed but completely unmemorable; there are scenes of Seagal fighting in hand-to-hand combat with bad guys, disarming bad guys and engaging in shoot-outs with bad guys. The plot is weak and the script limited; essentially, this is one of those action-star-as-bodyguard movies featuring our hero risking his life to save a young woman from the clutches of kidnappers.

The good things? The film is ably directed and the fight sequences short, snappy and well-handled. Seagal is pretty poor, it has to be said, and there's still far too much distraction from his copious use of doubles (not content with a mere body double in the fight sequences, he now employs a hair double for back-of-the-head shots). Thankfully his voice is only dubbed in the opening scene, which is something. The unfamiliar supporting cast is very bland with the notable exception of Liezl Carstens, who I found quite smouldering as the sultry young damsel-in-distress; if ever an actress could pull off the unconvincing romantic scenes involving her and Seagal's character, it would be her.

Just another mid 2000s Steven Seagal action flick, hard cuts lots of stunt doubles doing crazy things while Seagal stands there and waves his arms and waddles around smacking and shooting ppl

this time he is a cop recovered from a near death who helps a friend with his kidnapped daughter mostly non sense script as per usual. Plot kinda useless in these

Just enjoy the cringy and absurd dialogue and lots of seagal smacking guys and slapping and tossing them all over the place just don't ask questions you won't really get answers

hey yall fahgot ya knife man in that Louisiana twang with a waddle swagger.

Steven seagal's "The Keeper" is one of his good straight to dvd films, it's got a Seagal who seems really into this movie & i saw on the credits that he also produced the film so it's clear that the Master actually wanted to make this film.

The Keeper is a straight forward Gritty Crime Thriller with shots of Action now & then with guns & fists!!!

Here Seagal plays a very tough grizzled LA Cop who gets betrayed,shot & left for dead by his partner but of course he's not dead & in a Cool Hospital scene Seagal's character "Roland Sallinger" gets his revenge on his evil partner when he comes back to finish off Roland.

After these events Roland is trying to get back to it but he's been badly injured in his shoulder & his superiors make him retire from the force but Roland gets an offer from an old friend who wants to hire him as a bodyguard for his young daughter.

Roland goes to Texas & gets mixed up with Criminals & thugs & Cops, he's extremely protective over the beautiful Nikita & will protect her at any cost, there's some really nice human & sweet scenes with her & Sallinger & we get to know he knew her when she was only a child & it's just nice & sweet & that's something that's not usually in one of Seagal's usual violent gritty action films.

I feel there's more time put to characters & story with "The Keeper" than alot of his other films, so yes IT'S a good movie & a solid performance from Seagal.

This is a really good role for Seagal as his Roland Sallinger is a tough as hell guy like he always plays, but this time his character has more heart & soul, Sallinger actually smiles & laughs some times & comes accross as a really good decent man & his performance is actually very good especially for "Steven Seagal" & for a low budget Action film like THIS!!!

Yes it's a cheap B-movie with an ageing & fading Action star but it's a well made,gritty & good looking MOVIE!!!

"THE KEEPER" is definitely one of Seagal's best straight to dvd efforts & is a gem like his "Driven To Kill" & his "Against The Dark" & his "A Dangerous Man" & is genuinely a solid Action Thriller, it's just a low budget feature but with a good little story & a heart at the centre of it all, Steven seagal's "Roland Sallinger" is a very good character & fairly different from his usual tough guys but we still get that quick edited martial arts fighting & lots of bloody shootouts with real fake blood splatter so that's Awesome!!!