Sofia’s supporters are putting pressure on law enforcement to investigate her death as a homicide. However, Gabriel has something bigger that’s preoccupying his thoughts: The death of Sofia is big news, and he wants to squash an investigation that could prove that her death was a planned murder. “Blacklight” is so idiotic, it doesn’t bother explaining why Travis was sent all by himself for this dangerous rescue, when he was clearly outnumbered and had no backup in case things went wrong.īack at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., Travis gives his boss Gabriel a briefing on what happened with this rescue. And if people got killed during this massive explosion, oh well. Travis does exactly what you think he would do to take on this furious mob that looks like it’s about to set the trailer on fire: He blows something up, and then runs off with Helen through a back door. However, Helen’s cover was blown, the mob outside knows she works for the FBI, and now these racists want to get violent revenge on Helen. Before Travis arrives, he finds out that Helen had been undercover to infiltrate this white supremacist group. Meanwhile, Travis is shown coming to the rescue of an undercover FBI agent named Helen Davidson (played by Yael Stone), who is trapped in a house trailer with an angry mob of about 10 to 15 white supremacists taunting her outside. Tragedy strikes after Sofia leaves the rally: She’s run over by a car, which speeds off. Viewers find out later that Dusty is a former FBI agent who went rogue. In the audience of Sofia’s enthusiastic supporters is Dusty Crane (played by Taylor John Smith), who cheers his approval at everything Sofia says during the rally. “Blacklight” opens with a political rally led by a progressive liberal politician named Sofia Flores (played by Mel Jarnson), who is obviously supposed to be like this movie’s version of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And for an action film, “Blacklight” has too many dull moments that aren’t helped by the movie’s subpar editing. Regardless of where it was filmed, the low-quality cinematography often gives scenes a blue-gray tinge that makes locations look as soulless as a drab slab of steel. The story takes place mostly in Washington, D.C., but the movie was actually filmed in Australia. “Blacklight” is a fairly low-budget film, but the movie’s production design is laughably incompetent. He might as well be a back-office manager of a toilet-paper company with the type of office that he has in this movie. His boss is FBI director Gabriel Robinson (played by Aidan Quinn), who has one of the cheapest-looking and most basic offices that you’ll ever see in a movie for the supposed top leader of the FBI. Neeson’s Travis Block character has been working “off the books” as an undercover “fixer” for the FBI. In “Blacklight,” Neeson plays another “lone wolf” type with a particular set of skills in fighting whomever he fights in the movie. In fact, about 20 minutes into this 108-minute movie, it’s very easy to predict how everything is going to end. “Honest Thief” was another schlocky, unrealistic action flick, but at least “Honest Thief” tried to have some unexpected plot twists. Williams’ previous movie was 2020’s “Honest Thief,” which also starred Neeson as yet another grouchy loner with a troubled history and a bad temper. “Blacklight” was directed by Mark Williams, who co-wrote the movie’s terrible screenplay with Nick May. And through it all, Neeson looks like he’s just there for the easy money to play the same type of character over and over in these “Taken” ripoff movies. The movie has an awkward mix of gritty violence and ultra-sugary sentimentality. There is absolutely nothing original about this movie, which just re-uses and dumbs down plot elements from better action flicks, and then throws in lot of noisy stunts and fight scenes to distract from the ridiculous story. Emmy Raver-Lampman and Liam Neeson and in “Blacklight” (Photo courtesy of Open Road Films/Briarcliff Entertainment)Įver since the success of the “Taken” movie series, Liam Neeson has dragged himself down a shameless and shoddy hole of “Taken” ripoff movies. By Carla Hay Liam Neeson and Taylor John Smith in “Blacklight” (Photo courtesy of Open Road Films/Briarcliff Entertainment)Ĭulture Representation: Taking place primarily in Washington, D.C., the action film “Blacklight” features a predominantly white cast (with a few African Americans and Latinos) representing the working-class and middle-class.Ĭulture Clash: An undercover “fixer” for the FBI finds himself enmeshed in a corrupt conspiracy that endangers his life and the lives of others.Ĭulture Audience: “Blacklight” will appeal mainly to people who are fans of star Liam Neeson and ludicrous action movies.
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