SAS: Red Notice (2021)

SAS: Red Notice is the kind of no-nonsense, throwback action thriller that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go, staging its mayhem in the deliciously claustrophobic setting of a high-speed train barreling toward disaster. It has big, blunt energy—clean setups, clear stakes, and a steady drumbeat of tension—while Sam Heughan proves an easy-to-root-for lead who sells both the physical grit and the human urgency without needing to wink at the camera. The vibe is muscular and relentless, the sort of mid-budget crowd-pleaser that remembers the simple joy of watching a capable professional improvise under pressure. It’s not for viewers who want subtlety or who are sensitive to graphic violence, but if you’re on the fence and craving straightforward genre entertainment, this one delivers exactly what it promises.

SAS: Red Notice is clearly aiming for a slick, high-stakes “Die Hard on a train” thriller with a political cover-up running alongside the hostage chaos, and on paper that’s a solid pitch. The problem is it plays painfully familiar: the script leans hard on military-action clichés, the twists feel telegraphed, and the direction rarely finds a distinctive rhythm that makes the set-up as exciting as it should be. It’s also relentlessly violent and nasty in tone, so if you’re looking for fun, escapist action rather than grim hostage peril (including civilians and kids in danger), this may feel like a slog. Still, if you just want a straightforward, serviceable action ride with committed performances and don’t mind predictability, it can pass the time.