Liam Neeson stars in Retribution, an action thriller remake of the 2015 Spanish language film El desconocido, with Nimród Antal (Predators, Servant, Stranger Things) directing. Retribution is a tense, twisty action film that caught me off guard with how much fun it is while being more than a little silly.

Matt Turner (Liam Neeson) is a successful Berlin based American businessman juggling a booming financial career with family responsibility. Driving his kids to school one morning, Matt receives a phone call from a mysterious voice: there’s a bomb under his seat that will detonate unless he completes a specific series of tasks, and fast. Trapped in their car in a high-speed chase across the city, Matt must follow the stranger’s increasingly dangerous instructions in a race against time to protect his family and solve the mystery that plays out over the course of one day. 

Liam Neeson brings his trademark gravitas to Retribution but compliments this at times with a surprisingly affecting portrayal of a father seeking safety for his children. No doubt he is a key reason the film works as well as it does. He has a talent honed over the last 15 years or so since Taken for elevating action films, one well directed here by Nimród Antal.

Antal has crafted an entertaining and engaging film that relishes trying to pull the wool over its audience’s eyes. Though the film isn’t as clever as the screenplay might think it is, its silliness comes through and actually works in the film’s favour by lightening tone in moments the plot demands something that would otherwise test one’s ability to suspend disbelief.

Retribution is an entertaining and engaging action thriller elevated by an on-form Liam Neeson and the instincts of director Nimród Antal, resulting in a surprisingly brilliant popcorn flick.

★★★★