Great potential for action and revenge, Redemption Day lacks the character and story development to entertain along the way.
“Having just returned home, decorated U.S. Marine Captain Brad Paxton’s (Gary Dourdan) wife, Kate, is kidnapped by a terrorist group while working in Morocco. He is forced back into action for a daring and deadly operation to save the woman he loves.”
Saban Film’s latest straight to video action film, Redemption Day, touts itself as an American Military revenge/action film, and while it certainly delivers on certain aspects, like some of their recent action releases, tends to lack on other areas that serve as a detriment to the film.
While Redemption Day tries its best to deliver a Taken type of film, with foreign baddies kidnapping the family member of a resourceful and determined man, what we’re given falls short of becoming that on almost all levels. The story centers around Brad Paxton, who has just come back from a tour of duty, suffering PTSD from an ambush attack on his convoy. This flashback of the attack stays with him throughout the ordeal as he now has to go back and face hostile enemies. His wife, played by Serinda Swan, for some reason takes a job as soon as he gets back, working on an archeological dig in the Middle East, is quickly kidnapped and ransomed. Trying first to go through official government channels, the political minutia prevents this, as the film very faintly alludes to some kind of connection between governments and terrorists. While this certainly wouldn’t come as a surprise, this portion of the story, as well as just about everything else in the film, isn’t explored hardly at all.
If the film suffers from anything, it’s the lack of substance in the story. Characters unfortunately have no dimension. The bare minimum of introduction to the Paxton family is done before their reunion is cut short by Kate leaving, which doesn’t help the audience connect with the characters or their relationship with one another in any way. I didn’t really feel Brad’s panic at his wife being kidnapped, or any urgency at getting her back. While attempts are made at exploring Brad’s trauma incurred during his tour of duty, with flashbacks and his brief interactions in who I think is his father? These are so brief that whatever meaning these interactions were supposed to covey get lost, to the point that even I as an audience member don’t exactly know if Ernie Hudson is supposed to be his father or not, or if those strange lines during the boxing sequence were meant to show the deep bond between them. This carries over into the rest of the film where Brad meets up with another character that helps him rescue his wife. Whether the pacing got in the way of the exposition, or maybe there just wasn’t any, I was at a loss who this actually was and why we care about either of them. That’s the worst thing you can do in a film, is have characters you care absolutely nothing about. It makes it a 2-hour waste of time, and for me, that’s what this was.
What is impressive about the film is the beautiful landscape and locations first-time feature director Hicham Hajji is able to capture. While the story briefly takes place in the States, the majority takes place in some very barren, yet beautifully colored deserts. Action-sequences, although they aren’t that well done, look more impressive than they should given some of the breathtaking backdrops the sequences take place in.
Video
Redemption Day is released physically on DVD only, in Standard Definition. Because of the low quality, detail suffers quite a bit, especially if you’re used to that High Definition format. Colors aren’t as rich and vibrant as they should be, and in the desert setting, that is another detriment to the film. This disc does include a Digital Code, which is the recommended way to watch as it is the only way to see it in High Definition.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. This track sounds good, with a nice balance coming from the surrounds and center channel. There are a few instances of heavy action, explosions, gunshots, and those come through nice on this track. The score as well sounds very nice in the areas it ramps up with the action.
Special Features
One extra located on the disc, something to look forward to with the physical copy if you enjoy the movie. This also includes a Digital Code.
- Redemption Day: Behind the Scenes
Redemption Day sounds good from the synopsis, but the execution leaves a film with characters the viewer cares nothing for. While Saban has had success in the past, their last few action films have lacked in entertainment. If you’re looking for something low-brow, with military and revenge tones set in the Middle East, this one may be up your alley.