Renegades (2017)

Renegades is the kind of mid-budget action thriller that feels bigger than it has any right to, built around a genuinely fresh hook: a heist that plunges into an eerie, submerged world where every move is a stunt and every breath counts. Director Steven Quale keeps the pace tight and the set pieces cleanly staged, letting the underwater salvage sequences deliver real tension instead of murky chaos, and when the movie surfaces, it doesn’t skimp on muscular, old-school hardware thrills. Sullivan Stapleton gives the team a steady center, while J.K. Simmons adds a welcome jolt of gravitas that makes the mission feel weightier than a simple treasure hunt. If you want deep character study or realism about war, this may not be your film—but if you’re on the fence and craving a slick, high-concept ride with memorable action beats, Renegades earns its keep.

Renegades is clearly aiming for a slick “military guys do a daring underwater heist” romp set against the Balkan war backdrop, with a treasure-hook that sounds like it should be pulpy fun. The problem is the movie plays like a patchwork of better action-thrillers: the story is far-fetched, the heist beats feel rushed, and the gung-ho tone clashes with the heavier setting, making it hard to take seriously. If you need tight plotting, smart character work, or anything resembling realism, this will likely feel bland and derivative. That said, there are a few decent set pieces and J.K. Simmons brings some welcome authority, so it can work as low-stakes background action if your expectations are firmly in “Saturday cable” territory.