Director: Dave Wilson
Starring: Vin Diesel, Guy Pearce, Eliza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, Lamorne Morris, Tallulah Riley, Siddarth Dhananjay, Johannes Hauker Johannesson
Distributor: Columbia
Runtime: 109 mins. Reviewed in Apr 2020

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Rating notes: Science-fiction themes,, action violence and coarse language

When audiences think of Superheroes, they tend to think of the world of DC comics or, perhaps more especially, of the Marvel Universe. Bloodshot comes from neither, but rather another comic book world, Valiant.

If you like Vin Diesel, no problem here. It is definitely a Vin Diesel vehicle, a Vin diesel entertainment. In the opening action sequences in Mombasa, Kenya, there is tough action. But, Ray, Diesel’s tough soldier, comes under suspicion, is taken with his wife, interrogation, death.

So, where can the action go?

Guy Pearce is the head of an organisation which specialises in resuscitating dead heroes. He is smoothly spoken, sounds very intelligent, very reasonable – and, of course, is a 21st-century version of Dr Frankenstein bringing to life a creature whom he wants to control. There have been other experiments and some of the henchman in the institution are the products of resuscitation. There is also K.T., Katie (Eliza Gonzalez) who assists the doctor and who is dependent on him.

But, what can be done with this kind of resuscitated soldier? Obviously, he has to go on mission, stronger, more resilient than before. It is the missions which lead to the drama, especially when the doctor is able to play on Ray’s memories, insert different memories, always centring on the violent killing of his wife which he witnessed.

In fact, there are several missions, rivals to be eliminated, all in the name of security and order.

Katie, of course, is attracted towards Ray and is becoming more disillusioned with the doctor, leading to some complications in the missions, Ray discovering that his memories are not all true. There has to be some kind of confrontation.

At the institution, there is a whiz kid with all the technology developments in the resuscitation, memories development, control. But, Katie knows another whiz kid with even more technical ability, Wigan (Lamorne Morris in an entertaining comic and serious performance).

Audiences will be looking forward to the final confrontations between Ray the doctor – and may even be looking forward to Katie, Wigan and Ray going towards the future, and sequels.

This is a superhero action show which fulfils anticipation.

Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.