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It has been two decades since John Woo’s last American film, the confusing science fiction thriller Paycheck. Although he has not been actively directing, his influence has remained prominent. Directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, whose movies Bullet Train and John Wick were heavily inspired by Woo’s stylish and dramatic style, even have a photo of him in their shared office. With the current success of action movies, particularly the Wick franchise which has earned over $1 billion total, it is fitting that Woo, who is often considered one of the pioneers of the genre, would make a comeback to reclaim his position as a leader.
Silent Night, the revenge thriller by Woo, falls short of earning our applause that he has often deserved. However, it also does not disappoint enough for us to lament the loss of the once-great film-maker. It is a competent exercise that serves more as a warm-up than a victory lap. The plot revolves around Godlock (played by Joel Kinnaman), who is driven to seek revenge after his son is killed in a drive-by shooting. He undergoes a transformation from a mild-mannered family man to a merciless killer, spending a year planning to take down the men responsible for his family’s destruction.
The movie follows a well-known plot in a world heavily influenced by Taken, itself inspired by Death Wish from 1974. In this world, fathers seek revenge and seek out those responsible for their trauma through violent means, while the fate of grieving mothers is a darker tale. Silent Night shares similarities with Death Wish, set in a world overrun by crime and forcing the protagonist to become a vigilante. The film’s title has a dual meaning, as it takes place during Christmas and is almost completely devoid of dialogue, posing a challenge for both director Woo and the audience.
Kinnaman’s father, who is very determined, becomes unable to speak after being shot in the throat at the beginning of the movie. As a result, his grief and determination can only be expressed through a limited range of facial expressions – sadness, anger, and a combination of the two. We typically don’t expect much emotional depth from either Kinnaman as an actor or from these types of films, and even the talented Catalina Sandino Moreno is given a role where she cannot speak. The structure of the film is similar to a video game, with the characters moving from one boss battle to the next. Therefore, the lack of dialogue and character development is not a huge loss, but it does put a lot of pressure on Woo to impress us with his artistic skills. While this approach works for the most part, it falls short in fully engaging us. Woo’s stylistic choices range from clever to unattractive. His love for melodrama is only briefly and directly shown, which is a relief. What’s interesting about the structure is that it is often more enjoyable to watch the preparation for the action rather than the action itself. The idea of an ordinary person training to become a killer adds an extra layer of engagement to the story.
Maybe it’s also because we anticipate Woo to execute the final scene flawlessly that we are disappointed when it falls short. There are some standout moments, particularly involving a spiral staircase, but the chaos of gunshots and revving tires often fails to make an impact; the fight scenes are sloppily choreographed and lack the finesse they should have. In a year that has seen impressive creativity in sequels like John Wick and Mission: Impossible, Woo’s comeback is harder to root for. He still has his talent, but is that sufficient?
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The movie “Silent Night” is currently playing in US theaters and will be released in the UK at a later time.
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This piece was revised on December 1st. Catalina Sandino Moreno was mistakenly labeled as an Academy Award recipient.
Source: theguardian.com
