On The Line – REVIEW
Image: Mel Gibson and Alia Seror-O’Neill in On The Line. Image: film still
After several years of bad media and adverse encounters with the law, Mel Gibson is still attempting to redeem himself in the world of Hollywood after appearing in a series of ill-conceived cinematic offerings.
In this latest ‘C’ grade venture he plays the role of Elvis Cooney, a loud-mouthed prankster who hosts a midnight to dawn radio show. When a madman phones and claims he’s “going to do something really screwed up tonight” Elvis doesn’t initially realise that his intentions are to kill his wife and daughter. “You destroyed my family! Now it’s an eye for an eye!”
But what did Elvis do to attract such hatred? Add an array of bombs planted throughout the radio station and it’ll be interesting to see who survives in the aftermath!
And so commences this dark thriller, a game of cat and mouse overloaded with searing suspense and blood filled murder sequences that should keep moviegoers who enjoy this genre of film anticipating the next grizzly death.
After a slow start the film quickly gathers momentum and audiences who take the journey will be on a chilling rollercoaster ride to an unsettling yet enjoyable piece of entertainment – that is, until the two twists which appear in the final act that unfortunately bring the whole movie tumbling down to that “Why did I bother to watch this?’ status!
The twists change the whole concept of the film. Indiscriminate audiences may believe that these twists actually contribute to the ‘wow factor’ of the film, but more discerning viewers should feel cheated and perhaps even slight animosity towards the writers for having completely altered the path of a film they were initially captivated by.
Gibson who is also credited as executive producer delivers his usual up to standard performance playing the role of the ‘radio host all women dream of’ and is supported by a capable cast of relatively unknowns.
Moviegoers who intend on watching this film take note; all is not as it seems. Expect the unexpected. Only the most astute of viewers may predict the outcome that awaits the characters in this film.
★★1/2
In Cinemas November 17
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