Close Range (2015)

Close Range is the kind of lean, no-nonsense action thriller that reminds you how electrifying a well-shot fight scene can be when it’s built around clarity, speed, and sheer physical skill. Scott Adkins brings a bruised, driven intensity to the center of it all, and under Isaac Florentine’s steady hand the martial-arts choreography and gunplay hit with a crisp, frenetic rhythm that never lets the movie sag. The vibe is gritty and propulsive—less about speeches and more about momentum—so every confrontation feels like a practical, hard-earned burst of adrenaline. If you’re looking for deep character study you may find it straightforward, but if you want a fast, entertaining genre ride that delivers exactly what it promises, this one lands clean.

Close Range is clearly aiming for lean, no-nonsense revenge action: a tough guy with a past taking on crooked lawmen and cartel muscle to protect his family. The problem is the story feels like it’s running on fumes—predictable beats, juvenile dialogue, and characters that rarely rise above stereotypes, which makes it hard to care between shootouts. Even the action, while frequent, can come off amateurish and oddly staged, with gunfights that don’t always make physical or tactical sense. If you just want a brisk, low-budget brawler with a few gritty moments and you’re not picky about plot or performances, you might get by; if you need smart writing or believable choreography, this will test your patience.