Criminal Activities (2015)

Criminal Activities is the kind of lean, nasty little crime thriller that grabs you by the collar and keeps tightening the grip, powered by the delicious pleasure of watching smart people make one bad decision after another. Jackie Earle Haley directs with a confident, no-frills snap, letting the tension build in tight spaces while the story keeps slipping sideways in ways that feel earned rather than gimmicky. Dan Stevens and Michael Pitt sell the desperation, but it’s John Travolta who gives the film its oily, unpredictable pulse—charming one moment, dangerous the next. It’s talky, profane, and morally grim, so it won’t be for viewers looking for a glossy action ride, but if you like crime stories with momentum, sharp turns, and a cast that knows how to play the game, this one’s a satisfying gamble.

Criminal Activities is clearly aiming for a slick, twisty crime-thriller where a dumb financial gamble snowballs into a pressure-cooker kidnapping with mob politics closing in. The problem is it often feels like it’s borrowing familiar beats from better genre entries, stacking complications and “gotcha” turns without enough character nuance to make the tension land. Dan Stevens and Michael Pitt do what they can, and John Travolta brings a bit of oddball energy, but the dialogue and plotting can feel more busy than sharp. If you’re craving a fresh, tightly written thriller, this may test your patience; if you can enjoy a pulpy, slightly secondhand crime yarn carried by the cast, you’ll get a serviceable watch.