Blackout (2022)

Blackout knows exactly what it wants to be: a lean, locked-down chase thriller that turns a hospital into a pressure-cooker arena and keeps tightening the screws. Josh Duhamel sells the disorientation and grit of a man piecing himself together mid-pursuit, while the movie’s real calling card is its steady stream of scrappy, hard-hitting fights that make the confined setting feel like an advantage, not a limitation. The vibe is pulpy and go-for-broke—sometimes even goofily entertaining—so if you’re in the mood for slick realism, this may not be your prescription, but if you want a brisk, bruising ride with cartel menace and momentum to spare, it delivers. Be warned, though: it’s not shy about severe violence and profanity, with brief nudity in a drug-packaging scene.

Blackout wants to be a lean, claustrophobic chase thriller: amnesia, a locked-down hospital, and cartel hitmen closing in while the hero pieces together who he is. The problem is it plays out in a pretty by-the-numbers way, with plotting that can feel sloppy and “because the script says so,” so suspense often turns into eye-rolling rather than tension. Josh Duhamel brings committed, sturdy action-lead energy and there are a few punchy moments, but don’t expect clever twists or a fresh take on the genre. Also, be warned it’s heavy on violence and profanity, with some nudity in a drug-packaging scene—if you’re not in the mood for grim, rough-edged content, this one’s easy to skip.