Jolt2021

There are lots of films out there of guys kicking butt and taking names, but there are a lot less of bloody female-led action flicks of the same type.  So, when I run across one, I just have to check it out.  After all, it’s kind of a fresh take on the bloody violence action pic, and, while there have been a few (Atomic Blonde, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2), they haven’t let me down yet, and have brought something new to the table.  So would Jolt follow that trend, or is this just a female copy of a male movie?

 Kate Beckinsale (known for leading the sci-fi franchise Underworld) isn’t new to action, and shows she hasn’t lost a step in JOLT.  While she went for a few rom-coms (Serendipity, Click), she’s really comfortable in action pics, and it shows in Jolt.  She plays the role of Lindy, an adrenaline-charged rager, with great skill, showcasing her manic fighting skills as well as her cheerier side.  She’s the main reason viewers will stick around, as her character – though not very fleshed out – is likeable enough to keep watching.

The rest of the cast is surprisingly strong as well.  Jai Courtney – as her love interest – is better than he’s been in most of his films, while other familiar faces Bobby Cannavale, David Bradley (Mr. Filch from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) and Stanley Tucci all contribute to the film.   The best part – the whole cast, from Beckinsale on down – seems to be having a blast, and that really helps contribute to the viewer’s enjoyment.

Jolt sets up an intriguing premise right from the start. This woman, Lindy, has uncontrollable rage episodes that’s being treated by electro shock therapy that she administers herself via remote control to a shock vest that she wears.  At first, viewers think it’s going to be about her day-to-day life dealing with this issue, but when a shocking (no pun intended) event happens, she sets off as a one woman army to take down those she thinks are responsible.   This, of course, make the film kind of predictable, and there are too many sequences that feel like unnecessary filler, but the pace is quick enough to brush past these quickly.

It’s a pretty good setup, and a revenge pic is usually entertaining.  Toss in a unique development about the character, and no shying away from some bloody violence, and it sounds like a pretty good flick.  Unfortunately, that’s been done before, with Crank.  Still, aside from the obvious similarities, not to mention the fact that during this revenge spree, the vest seems to cause her more trouble than its worth, it still delivers a unique woman’s view of the whole situation.  Still, with a title like Jolt, it definitely doesn’t push the envelope enough, being less violent than Atomic Blonde and less crazy than Crank. 

The action sequences are pretty fun in Jolt.  While they may get a little wild, the film manages to convey a sense that it’s kind of poking fun at high speed car chases and fight sequences, all while bringing off some decent sequences.  There’s an underlying dark humor to the whole thing, which makes for a bit more comedy than most viewers will be expecting.

With that self-depreciating humor underlying the whole picture and a solid cast, Jolt delivers on the action and a quick pace makes sure viewers don’t really have a chance to pause and catch their breath.  Unfortunately, a twist at the end kind of destroys a lot of the female empowerment vibe that’s been running through the entire film, and does nothing but make the characters feel cheaper because of it.  It’s really too bad, because without that twist, this film could have been better – but not quite as good as Crank or Atomic Blonde.