GINA CARANO: “Daughter of the Wolf.” / “Scorched Earth.”

“Daughter of the Wolf” (2019, PlutoTV) Canadian action/drama. Clair Hamilton is a military veteran whose son Charlie has been kidnapped. She brings a bag of money as ransom for Charlie but at the exchange she is double-crossed by the kidnappers, leading to a shootout. 



       Gina Carano is Clair. This time, she had a chance to show some dramatic chops besides the ex-soldier brawn.   Brendan Fehr as Larsen showed some emotion, as well. Nika Agiashvili’s script, with wolves thrown in, is interesting and the snow backdrop + campfire works for David Hackl’s sparse direction. And Richard Dreyfuss is here, too. 🎥💻📽


“Scorched Earth” (2018, Sling) Canadian-American post-apocalyptic science fiction/action. In the not-too-distant future, the world is ravaged by brutal climate changes, colloquially known as the Cloud Fall. The combination of pollution and relentless mining of Earth's resources through industrialism has left the environment nearly unlivable and extremely hostile to human habitation. 


       Although not anything new, the dystopian future as a cinematic genre is always interesting to me. This movie is an interface of “Mad Max” and “Hang `em High,” which challenges Gina Carano’s martial arts prowess and smart-ass talk, too. Plus the sexy smile. But Peter Howitt’s direction is a lifeless, lumbering drag, despite Ms Carano’s quick draw. 🎥💻📽


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