While the action sequences are entertaining (if overly reliant on CGI), one can’t help but notice that everything feels recycled from other (and better) movies.
American soldier Ray Garrison (Vin Diesel) leads a successful one-man hostage rescue in Kenya against superior numbers. Afterward, while he and his wife, Gina (Talulah Riley,) vacation in Italy, they are captured by enemy soldiers. Martin Axe, the man responsible for their kidnapping, threatens to kill Gina unless Ray discloses how he located the hostages in Kenya. Ignoring Ray’s pleas that he simply followed orders from his superiors, Axe kills Gina. Ray vows that he will avenge her death shortly before he too is killed.
Ray then awakens in the laboratories of Rising Spirit Technologies, a company run by Dr. Emil Harting (Guy Pearce). Dr. Harting explains to Ray how RST — using nanotechnology called Bloodshot — has revived his dead body and given him the ability to heal from almost any wound. Dr. Harting also introduces him to several other people to whom RST has assisted in restoring vital bodily functions. All of them, including Ray, now also possess incredible strength. Dr. Harting plans to eventually sell his nanotechnology projects to the military.
As Ray slowly regains his memory, he realizes he can keep his vow to hunt down his wife’s killer. Using his nanotech-enhanced body, Ray escapes the lab, locates Martin Axe in Hungary, and proceeds to slaughter him and his security forces. Despite being shot, stabbed, and beaten, Ray’s body heals immediately and allows him to be an unstoppable death machine. Once his personal mission is completed, Dr. Harting’s team reacquires him and takes him back to RST’s headquarters. More of Ray’s memory returns, and with the help of K.T. (Eiza González), one of Dr. Harting’s other patients, Ray discovers that the doctor’s medical achievements might be more self-serving than they seem.
Based on a comic book series, Bloodshot is an oddball superhero movie. Had it been released in the 1990s, it might feel fresh and exciting. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this type of origin story before — some might say too many times. While the action sequences are entertaining (if overly reliant on CGI), one can’t help but notice that everything feels recycled from other (and better) movies.
Bloodshot‘s first act had me engaged and felt like it might spin a story in a unique direction. Unfortunately, as the second act begins, it degenerates into a standard special effects movie with characters as two dimensional as the comic panels from which they emerge. Ultimately, it’s a predictable — if attractively presented — slog.
Never known for his acting chops, Vin Diesel mumbles his way through the ropey dialogue but seems engaged during the action. Now 55 years old, he’s looking a bit too old to play a front-line combat soldier. Eiza González’s character warrants more backstory, if only so we might understand her motivation in helping Ray.
Overall, Bloodshot‘s story has initial promise but the handling is too similar to movies like RoboCop and Upgrade. As popcorn flicks go, Bloodshot isn’t the worst but with so many better alternatives, why bother?
2.0 out of 5.0 stars
