Choosing a gimmick on which to hang your movie is a tough job. The various ‘one continuous take’ films over the years have met with varying degrees of success – notably Sebastian Schipper‘s Victoria (in cinemas now, and really worth seeing) being one of the best.
Point is – a good film is a good film. Gimmicks are window dressing, and they might entice you in but if there’s nothing worthwhile beyond you won’t buy it.
Fair to say that Ilya Naishuller’s first person action movie Hardcore Henry has a fine gimmick, and this week we’ll get to see if there’s anything beyond it. Here’s a new TV Spot to convince you it’s a worthy journey to make.
Produced by Timur Bekmambetov, Ilya Naishuller, Inga Vainshtein Smith, Ekaterina Kononenko and written and directed by Ilya Naishuller.
Sharlto Copley leads the cast which inclues Danila Kozlovsky, Haley Bennett, Andrey Dementyev, Dasha Charusha, and Sveta Ustinova.
Synopsis? Go!
Strap in. Hardcore Henry is an original film that was shot completely from the hero’s perspective. You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry. Five minutes later, you are being shot at, your wife has been kidnapped, and you should probably go get her back. Who’s got her? His name’s Akan (Danila Kozlovsky); he’s a powerful warlord with an army of mercenaries, and a plan for world domination. You’re also in an unfamiliar city of Moscow, and everyone wants you dead. Everyone except for a mysterious British man called Jimmy (Sharlto Copley). He may be on your side, but you aren’t sure. If you can survive the insanity, and solve the mystery, you might just discover your purpose and the truth behind your identity. Good luck, Henry. You’re likely going to need it…
