While it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, Protector offers some capable entertainment if you're in the mood for some revenge-type action.
“Former war hero Nikki’s peaceful life is shattered when her daughter is kidnapped. Thrust into the criminal underworld while hunted by cops and military, she must fight to rescue her child.”
The Protector is a decent enough action thriller that delivers exactly what fans of the revenge-retrieval subgenre are looking for. It plays very much in the same wheelhouse as Taken and some of the more recent Jason Statham/David Ayer collaborations like The Beekeeper and A Working Man, but with a maternal perspective that gives it a slightly different emotional flavor. Milla Jovovich stars as Elena, a tough-as-nails former military operator whose daughter is snatched by sex traffickers. What follows is a familiar but satisfying journey of a mother fighting tooth and nail, using every skill she has to tear through the criminal underworld to get her child back.
The film follows a very paint-by-numbers narrative and doesn’t offer much that feels new to the genre. The plot beats are predictable, the villains are appropriately slimy and one-dimensional, and the structure hits all the expected marks. However, it does deliver some genuinely satisfying comeuppance moments, a handful of intense and well-staged action sequences, and an ending that isn’t exactly earth-shattering but is different enough from the usual formula to be noteworthy.
For a low-budget film, you get pretty much what you expect. The production values are solid enough, the action is competently shot, and there are definite moments of entertainment that make it a perfectly film. I’ve never been a huge fan of Milla Jovovich, but she delivers the type of performance the film requires, and not much more.
Video
The Blu-ray presents the film in 1080p High Definition with a clean AVC encode in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The image is sharp with good contrast, solid black levels, and clear detail in both daylight and darker action sequences. Colors are naturalistic, and the transfer holds up well for a lower-budget production.
Audio
Audio is delivered in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, providing a surprisingly aggressive and immersive mix. Gunfire, hand-to-hand combat, and the score have nice separation and punch, while dialogue remains clear and centered throughout.
Special Features
No extras or digital code are included.
The Protector on Blu-ray is a serviceable, no-frills action revenge film that gives you exactly what it promises. If you’re in the mood for a straightforward, mother-on-a-mission story with solid action beats and satisfying payback, this one gets the job done. A decent pickup for fans of the genre, but there are still much better choices to satisfy that mood if needed. This one is out now.
