Reprisal (I) (2018) User Reviews

My dog wrote a suicide note after watching this

[azepeda-72342 · 3/10 · 23 October 2021]

Poor poor doggie, he has not stopped crying since this movie finished. Like me he is a Frank Grillo fan, but this movie sucked, not even a B movie, I would put it at the bottom of Grillo's movies by a longshot.

This movie would rate alongside a Pre-K production of the musical Hair. Save yourself some time, and pick something else.

Odd and it Ended

[bemyfriend-40184 · 3/10 · 16 June 2021]

I liked that it was filmed in Cincinnati. Otherwise, it was very odd. I'm glad that Tubi, the free streaming site, now has theater quality films. Most Tubi films are the no-budget stinkers, which are truly unwatchable. This was a real movie, not just something made in someone's backyard. Still, it was a very odd film; which didn't even try to seem real.

Laughable

[markbarner · 4/10 · 18 April 2019]

It had potential with the cast but then bad writing and really bad direction made it go downhill from there. Then the editing and cuts where so horrible and made absolutely no sense some of the times. Characters behaving weird and unnatural. Why would our main character want to be so close to the main bad guy - what was his passion of doing that when having his family to take care of. Why didn't the bad guy recognize him when he fights him at the 2nd robbery... when the robber had his picture hanging in the factory on the wall... why would our main character drive so close to someone he is spying on when he doesn't want to be seen. The monologue by Bruce in the end of the ambulance was maybe one of the worst I have seen. "These people have been through enough - this is on me!" Wtf!? Their kid also really needed acting lessons though she has no real lines. But she just threw me off. I am sure she could be better with a better director and writer. What happened to the music score which spiked at weird times too!!

Worst of all was that scene where Bruce shoots the bad guy and he falls over the railing and smoke comes up... then it cuts to a scene where he just lies in concrete... uuuuuh where did the smoke come from then?!! So horrible and slobby!!

A total time waster. I got pulled into seeing this only cos of Frank Grillo n Johnathon Schaech....

[Fella_shibby · 2/10 · 12 September 2018]

Normally i avoid the current Bruce Willis films. Of lately Willis is jus doing horrible cameo appearances in horrible films n his photos r all over the dvd covers including his name n glimpes of him in the trailers. Coming to the film, the synopsis, the cast n trailer was good but the film was terrible. The villain Johnathon Schaech is shown attending to his old dad who's a decorated veteran, Schaech's repeated dialogue regarding an eye for an eye n his facial expressions conveyed that our villain might be doing the heist for some vengeance but alas the heist, the action and the end was meh. Also when Frank Grillo discusses with Willis about the robber, Willis' face and body language looked as if Willis knows about the heist n the robber...... Wait, i dont want anybody else to waste their time in seein this awful film.

Horrible Movie

[daylami-49855 · 2/10 · 30 August 2018]

Acting was horrendous, the camera kept on zooming to the actors faces unnecessarily at times... Bruce willis acting role was pointless and did not add any interesting factors to the movie.

The story line is more than boring, i recommend anyone who is thinking to watch this movie to wait until it's shown on tv 10 years later for free.

No no no no no....Messrs Willis and Grillo....what were you thinking?

[chrishealey-98230 · 1/10 · 3 September 2018]

Admittedly, actors are drawn to scripts with no real idea how their craft will manifest itself on the finished product but, omg, at some point through this mess of a film should 2 seasoned actors say to themselves (or each other) "this sucks....maybe we should up our game and salvage a little price" but, alas, no.

Tough to know where to start but, the whole hokey "we need to cut back our expenditure" conversation over breakfast sets the tone....the gruff Bruce Willis only has to say "morning" to his neighbour but, doesn't look at him and instead glares at the ground as if to say, these 2 neighbours don't get on (yet they do...they are buddies, friends) so, why have Willis glaring as if he may have something to do with what's about to unfold....misdirect maybe or just overacting? you be the judge.

The actual robbery itself.....apart from shooting the security guard (for no other reason than to tell us that this guy is evil and merciless....why would he do that....why not disarm him and tie him up?) phone jammer, tactical outfit, little post it notes instead of speaking, military grade lock all looked good but then it all goods really bad....the editing is appalling....wtf....I don't even know what happened to the bank robber....he was there then he was gone and Grillo and his colleague are covered in Red powder from exploding bags of cash....I understand they ended up as decoys but, give us a clue and edit the thing a little more helpfully...

Then we have the whole clichéd "can't sleep, violent bank robber, must catch him myself" storyline.....need I say more?

Willis's first basement meeting with the flip chart etc.....really really made no sense whatsoever....was the director trying to make us feel like he had something to do with it...cos that's how it came across...another misdirect maybe but Bruces's acting was terrible....and what about this exotic lock....we are made to believe it is a plot point but, then....nothing!!!!!

And then...Grillo manages to locate bad guys lair and, instead of phoning the cops right there and then....goes to investigate and confirms he is bad guy....so, obviously then proceeds to follow him right to his next job...a meticulously planned (cos we saw the montage) security van heist that goes spectacularly wrong....why all the planning and measuring etc? It couldn't have gone more wrong for bad guy.....and when oh when will Americal cops be trained sufficiently to enable at least one of them to hit the target...a bad guy!!!!???

Then the whole "sneak into hospital, kill an FBI agent in a room...then have time to call Grillo's character, then kill the injured lady (who had sizeable trauma to her head from the security van heist but, looked ok to me and didn't really have sufficient trauma to spend a night in hospital anyway other than to go and get herself killed by psycho killer"....no hospital staff alerted to this strange man with a gun and silencer killing 2 people and making phone calls.....come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The conclusion to this entire mess has to be the worst shootout in cinema history....none of it makes sense....it actually reminded me of the old "Police Squad" Leslie Nielson shootout where they were behind 2 trash cans about 3 feet apart...and still couldn't hit anyone....and if I saw any more clichéd cops getting out of their cars and trying to walk into automatic weapon gunfire....and ultimately getting dead...I swear down.....ridiculous....oh, and to even try to make the bad guy look like Robert de Niro in Heat was outrageous...bordering on pathetic....he gives away the location of the kidnapped family to the undercover cops.....they find them but, don't think to let Grill know who has an earpiece in...wtf???? how about that little plot hole? he then has to tackle to professional hitman thinking that if he kills him he'll never know where his family are....who, by this time are now safe in an ambulance and being treated by the incredibly overacting Bruce Willis...and no-one wants that now do they!!! Bruce then goes all into action mode running while cocking a shotgun.....only for Grillo to stand off and as if to say "we need more action" have Willis off bad guy whilst he falls over a balcony to a grisly demise. Cue, soft, sweet music....bad guy is dead!!!!

Then the payoff....Grillo ends up a cop 6 months later!!!! Why??? cos he did everything a cop wouldn't do? makes no sense.

to conclude.....I rarely post on here....the last post (and in fact my first) was to congratulate "Cobra Kai" on being a class production and a breath of fresh air in the over populated arena of mini series...so, happy to heap praise where earned....but this......this made me so mad.....I love Bruce (although some of his latter years outings have been very very misjudged) and I love the up and coming Frank Grillo....Wheelman was one of my favourite films of last year...but, poor film making is inexcusable....lazy writing, shocking editing, plot holes, sub plots that lead no where (bad guys father..suffering dementia with a army background and warehouse......so so poor)....and asking the audience to suspend far too much belief.....I am personally insulted at how crap the whole effort was....alas, as I mentioned at the top...may Bruce and Frank didn't know how bad the resulting effort was going to be but, my my.....it is BAD!!!! sorry guys!-(

Worst movie ever?

[tgsausa · 1/10 · 1 September 2018]

So, I saw all the bad reviews, but I still went to see it. I'm a fan of Bruce Willis I figured it cant be that bad. I'm not sure why this movie was made, weak plot, horrible acting by everyone. The whole movie just didn't work. ,it was so bad that a few people actually walked out, I even left just after the big shoot out. weather it was the end or not. It was almost painful to watch.

THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE THIS TWO STARS MUST BE RELATED TO BRUCE

[oasis-27911 · 1/10 · 1 September 2018]

Not worth the computer or the handycam it was written on. Having said that there is only one way from here on. Very hard to try to figure out how something like this could have come to be - like "he can't need money that badly - like set up a go fund me account and ask for 10 cents instead of scamming your fans"

Not as bad as some reviewers say it is, considering...

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 6/10 · 1 September 2018]

Although these types of stories have been overly done, I still enjoy watching them. This one could have been much better if only director Brian A. Miller knew how to direct.

For starters, he needs to invest in a tripod or something, as the shaky-cam and blurred filming gave me a headache.

To make matters worse, that annoying score was way too loud, it actually muffled some of the scenes dialogue - pretty much can't get any more amateur than that, and considering this isn't Miller's first film, it's a huge oversight, not to mention the score was just too 1980's and out of place in most scenes.

Now the writing by Bryce Hammons was just as terrible, with some scenes that just didn't make sense, as well as major plot issues, BUT, I am more forgiving towards him as he is a rookie writer with this film being only his second. I've also seen much worse writing from more seasoned writers.

The acting from all cast was actually not bad considering it seemed the director could have directed his cast better, but was probably too busy looking for that tripod. Frank Grillo and Johnathon Schaech performed well, and surprisingly so did Bruce Willis. He's been pretty annoying and bad in his latest films, so this one was a few notches up.

If you have nothing better to watch and can get past the annoying score, bad camera work and plot issues, this film is not all that bad. It's an honest 6/10 from me.

Was this a joke?

[julian-640-544058 · 1/10 · 1 September 2018]

Bruce Willis is an excellent actor. I have enjoyed his body of work for many years. Then I saw this train wreck. What happened Bruce? I can only figure that he has a sense of humor and this movie was his idea of a joke. The dialog was ridiculous and the story was predictable. It has the feel of a student film with equally amateurish special effects. From his first line, Bruce meandered through the script as if he had read it only once. It was almost as if he was mocking the author with each line. And well he should have. For the life of me I cannot understand why he would have taken on this part, unless, maybe he lost a bet. I can safely say you can miss this film...I wish I had.

This was painful to watch

[keive · 3 September 2018]

Bruce was the reason i said lemme check this out and i think thats my biggest movie regret or close to it. Poor acting, characters didn't allow me to feel any form of reality, the mother show very little emotions when her only daughter having a seizure. Bruce must have been very idle, the story was predictable and lame, am not sure where the conflict started, not sure why the robber continue to say a life for a life as if some vendetta is at play.. im truly hurt this movie is the worst!!!!

Not that bad..

[precillia_ss · 9/10 · 26 October 2018]

Yes it is a very classic crime movie. Commit a crime,thread someone,rape their loved ones,and other stuff like that. But i mean hey,it's not that bad tho. Maybe you guys find it boring coz y'all have seen this kind of movie everywhere,but if we ignore the fact that this is a classic crime movie for a while,it's a hella good movie. It's very intense tho.

Entertaining action

[hellhoundc · 7/10 · 18 February 2022]

I don't understand the low ratings. Give this movie a chance. It's entertaining!...its not perfect but it's way better than a 4.3...the bank robber does some unique things that haven't been seen in many movies which I thought was cool.

One of the worst films I have ever seen

[hmaher-69602 · 1/10 · 3 September 2018]

Put It this way, I don't leave reviews on anything. If your lucky enough to not have watched this film and you are looking on here for an idea of what this film is like, you are lucky. Absolutely no plot whatsoever, no backstory and terrible action scenes. I don't even know what they were thinking making this but everyone involved should find a new career path. Please don't make the same mistake I did in watching this.

The only redeeming feature of this is that I didn't pay to watch it at the cinema.

[jpk-59948 · 1/10 · 11 February 2021]

The Bruce Willis of Moonlighting and the Die Hard series is dead.... in his place is a withered husk going through the motions- and attempting a Brandoesque method to acting where he's mumbling his lines in a barely audible manner.

Worst Willis Impersonator Movie Ever

[bubbakid · 1/10 · 31 August 2018]

Sad to write this as I watch Willis for the distraction. This movie made no sense. First it is July and it is a school day?? Then the city (Cincinnati) is deliberately not mentioned in the movie. Then the action violence suspends credulity. As a Willis fan I had to see the movie but if you are looking for Willis he is hard to find. The movie is a poor excuse.

Beyond stupid

[lopezpatricia-06139 · 1/10 · 28 February 2021]

This busy body takes it upon himself to investigate the bank that's been robbed on his watch. Causing 8 people to die and then he gets a commendation for it. Utter rubbish.

A life for a life

[TheLittleSongbird · 1/10 · 18 October 2018]

Saw 'Reprisal' because Bruce Willis has done good films and given good performances in the past, 'Die Hard' is a genre landmark and his performance is iconic in that. Have an appreciation for action and the idea for the story sounded interesting. Expectations were not high though, because Willis has been past prime for a while (several bad films and has looked tired and disengaged a lot).

'Reprisal' is not a good representation of him, as a film it is down there as one of his worst and his own performance likewise. It fails dismally in the action stakes, faring very unfavourably in relation to other films seen in the genre, and while anything involving bank heists have been predictable numerous times 'Reprisal' manages to portray it with no thrills complete with dull pacing, lots of silliness and endless predictability. Not hating it with pleasure, it's my honest opinion and my negative feelings towards it are regrettable.

The least bad thing about 'Reprisal' is Frank Grillo, the one asset of the film to show any degree of effort and engagement. Willis is used poorly, looks tired and like he didn't want to be there. Jonathan Schaech is stuck in a one-dimensional villain role that he overdoes in some places and underacts in others. Olivia Culpo is bland personified.

Visually, 'Reprisal' looks amateurish, the photography here some of the most disorganised, least stylish and self-indulgent for any film seen recently and the editing lacks cohesion. The music is too loud, should have been used far less and some of the placement is inappropriate. This is not Brian A. Miller's first film believe it or not and not his first collaboration with Willis, but somehow his direction is similar to that of an inexperienced rookie to the job.

Dialogue from the very start to the contrived climax is riddled with clichés and cheese and what little there is of the story has no surprises, fun or tension, is very pedestrian in pace and fails to make sense or have signs of maturity. It is good that it didn't take itself too seriously but 'Reprisal' goes overboard on the ridiculousness and lack of plausibility. The action is clumsily choreographed, sloppily edited and not exciting or suspenseful at all, as well as looking at least twenty years out of date. The characters are not compelling or easy to get behind. Do not expect every character in every film to be likeable when characters in numerous films purposefully aren't, but it is an issue if there are characters meant to be rootable and 'Reprisal' has that problem.

Overall, very poor. Only Grillo is halfway watchable and even he is not used that well. 1/10 Bethany Cox

Incoherent and absurd

[Prismark10 · 2/10 · 1 April 2019]

Frank Grillo plays Jacob an unlikely bank manager. His bank is hit by a sole bank robber who is on a robbing spree. A security guard is killed and in the mayhem the robber disappears.

The robber is stealing money supposedly to help out his ill father living in a care home. The audience does not give a damn as he brutally killed other hard working people.

Jacob and his next door neighbour who is an ex-cop, James (Bruce Willis) try to track down the robber before his next heist. When Jacob gets in the robber's way, the stakes become more personal.

This is a dull movie, badly written, the action scenes are lame and with terrible incidental music. It is really a cheapo B movie with a cameo by Willis because he is probably on his $1 million a day deal.

Turn you're brain off, relax, and enjoy.

[ericjc47 · 6/10 · 4 June 2022]

Not great or probably even good, but Grillo and Willis spend 90 minutes being Grillo and Willis. Don't be a hater about it. You know what the movie is going to be. Turn your brain off and relax and enjoy.

So bad

[vmm-44628 · 2/10 · 31 August 2018]

This had the makings of a good movie but half way through it all went south...he hides the money in his house after the girl sees him! Bruce Willis is a non event. Just goes from bad to worse. Pissed me off I wasted my time watching this garbage!

play wth the cat instead. far more entertaining.

[yfrank14-651-253140 · 22 August 2019]

If you are bothered by stupid things in movies like calling a standard trailer door cargo lock a specality lock. or saying the bank robber needed to have percise measurements to know what size adjustable lock to put on a door ,or a bank robber who who identified whch two guys had that the combonation to open the safe, before he robbed the bank, then didnt recognize the guy when he beats him up during an armored car robbery, do not watch this movie. if you enjoy a retired cop charging into a hostage situation through the front door, a bank officer taking a handgun from the retired cop and then just happened to have a spare mag in his pants, an armored car guard who doesnt shoot the robber through the gun ports,a retired cop and the patients mom telling the paramedics what drugs to administer, the mom adminstering the drugs in an ambulance, the retired cop forgetting to chamber a round in his shotgun untll just before he shot the bad guy, then this move is for you. if you fgure out how an electronic road flare disabled an armored car, please let me know.

Bruce Willis favorite move in resent years!

[GodBlessAMERICA1 · 9/10 · 3 September 2018]

...amongst hos own. If Bruce Willis love it , I like it too. Not my favorite but it was great to see Bruce Willis back in action.

Bruce Willis plays a retired cop, with over 20 high octane years on the force, is called back into action when a good friend and neighbors bank is robbed. Bruce Willis helps to build and lead the private investigation in order to have the robber brought to justice. With a gun blasting finale Bruce Willis is able to save the day.

A super fun fact : Bruce Willis ad libbed the line " break - it - down - for - me " That line was not in the script and Bruce Willis came up with that on his own.

Bruce Willis compares this to Hostage and 16 Blocks and is very proud of what he has accomplished with this film.

NOT THE BEST, NOT THE WORST EITHER

[rsridhar2005 · 7/10 · 4 September 2018]

Most of reviews here completely panned the movie. Guys, change your perspective. I wouldn't say this is the best thriller / action film ever made, but at the same time, this is not the worst ever movie.

Nothing new in the plot, a bank heist leave the hero (Frank Grillo) devastated, as he is the branch manager. Despite his limitations, he decides to fight and nail the solo burglar. With the help of his neighbor (Bruce Willis), a retired cop to learn the tricks of the trade and to nab the culprit.

There is not much scope for acting as this is not a melodrama. Otherwise, it is a decent thriller.

I washed my eyes with soap after this

[sgbvcpd · 1/10 · 28 May 2020]

A genuine case study in how not to make a movie. Every single aspect of the movie is bad.... nothing makes sense or is relevant.. the only way you'll truly understand how bad this is, is by watching it. Just keep some disinfectant for your eyes close by