Dean Devlin, just off last year’s stinker Geostorm (a big budget version of an Asylum movie if there ever was one) directs Doctor Who star David Tennant in a film that should have been titled Doctor Who Cares?
Two restaurant valets (Sheehan and Olivero) decide to be the Einstein’s of crime by having one watch the unobservant patron as he or she eats their meal while the other drives off in the victim’s car using GPS as the other breaks into their home to steal their valuables.
But when Cale Erendreich (Tennant) shows up in his Maserati thinking they have a major cash cow on their hands, they get more than they bargained for after finding a tied up, bloodied Kate (Condon) in Erendreich’s house. Now, their thieving morale code is flipped on its head as they decide to call the cops and get arrested or intervene and get arrested.
However, it turns out that Erendreich is a serial killer and now the hunters become his prey.
Tennant shines as the evil Erendreich especially in his physical features with his snake-like, hypnotic eyes and sinister delivery of dialogue playing a deadly cat and mouse game of wits with his new victims.
Bad Samaritan is a well-photographed movie with the majority of it shot at night in Portland, Oregon with its impressive vistas, but the story by Brandon Boyce is pedestrian at best in its pacing, unbelievable moments and delivery. There is no one to root for as the hero, as all the characters have un-redeeming values. It’s like Ray Dennis Steckler’s obscure 1979 film The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Slasher and the best part of that film was the movie poster.
It’s always great to see Tennant on screen, though. This is an actor who could read the phone book and he make it interesting. He is a true entertainer. His role in Hamlet is equal to Sir Laurence Olivier’s performance and we’re sure his future roles will deliver just as much in quality.
Of course, if you’re a glutton for punishment, you’d be better off watching the remake of the Quatermass Experiment than this road accident with Tennant as Dr. Briscoe, the best actor in that train derailment. We’re sure Nigel Kneale and Val Guest were spinning in their graves when that low-brow missing link aired.
Devlin’s directing takes the paint-by-numbers approach with nothing new to offer.
For Tennant aficionados only, otherwise avoid.
BAD SAMARITAN / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR: DEAN DEVLIN / SCREENPLAY: BRANDON BOYCE / STARRING: DAVID TENNANT, ROBERT SHEEHAN, CARLITO OLIVERO, KERRY CONDON / RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 24TH (UK), OUT NOW (US)
Expected Rating 6 out of 10
