Amazon Prime Instant Video film review: Repo Men
Review Overview
Nice idea
8Shame about the rest of it
2David Farnor | On 27, Nov 2014
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Cast: Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Liev Schreiber, Alice Braga
Certificate: 18
Watch Repo Men online in the UK: Amazon Prime Instant Video
We’ve all been there – taken out a credit plan to pay for a new kidney or fresh liver. But in the shiny, distant future, The Union (a friendly national corporation) is there to manage it all for you. But what happens when you default on your repayments? Well, the Repo Men pay you a visit. Yes, Jude Law will turn up in your bedroom with a view to taking your clothes off. Then he’ll cut out your organ with a hacksaw.
Remy (Law) has no problem with his work – he and buddy Jake (Whitaker) love getting out the knives and slicing up meat. But, of course, Remy’s ticker soon gets fried, so he gets kitted out with the company’s latest heart model. With that comes a new-found conscience, and a life on the run from his old friend.
The cast are all clearly enjoying themselves in this trashy bit of sci-fi action. But what starts off as a funny and clever concept quickly loses its way amid all the gunfights and Alice Braga’s predictable love interest. Director Miguel Sapochnik gives it some admirable grit when away from The Union’s spotless corridors, but soon hacks out the movie’s brains with mindless violence. Yes, any chance to see Liev Schreiber on top sleazy form is a pleasure, but Repo Men isn’t all that pleasant.
Repo Men’s dystopian humour drowns in debt-fuelled organ mashing. A run-of-the-mill slab of chaotic action.
Repo Men is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, as part of a £5.99 monthly subscription.