MAN DOWN (2015) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Dito Montiel

Written by - Adam G. Simon

Starring - Shia LeBeouf, Kate Mara, Jai Courteney, Gary Oldman

"MAN DOWN is a post-apocalyptic thriller in which a former US marine desperately searches for his wife and son, accompanied by his best friend and a mysterious survivor. 

The tension of DITO MONTIEL's film is as much fuelled by the paranoia induced by US marine warfare as much as it is inspired by personal traumas. 

The story is presented in non-chronological order. The reason for this is to intensify the mystery of the film, and leaving many questions unanswered until their final reveal. It also blends the fine line between what is real and what isn't, an attempt at recreating the psychedelic atmosphere of such nightmarish visions as JACOB'S LADDER. The approach, however, feels a little indulgent, systematic and ultimately feels like a drawback, unnecessarily stretching out the duration of the film and particularly allowing an interrogation sequence featuring an unusually uninspired GARY OLDMAN carelessly repetitive. 

SHIA LEBEOUF's captivating performance as an ordinary man is the film's centre piece. However, the film's substandard energy only ravitalizes in its final quarter, but it's not enough."

Thriller, USA