Often in the various TV cop shows, the father of a victim will proclaim, “Just give me one minute with him!” He’ll stare at the predator that harmed a family member and growl in anger. But since this is a by the book procedural, the police detective will declare that they wish they could give them that minute, but that’s not how justice is administered in America. We have law and order without a vigilante option. But what if for a minute, that father can enter the interrogation room and do his worse. Would he really take up the offer? The Retaliators is a nightmare that takes a father to that point.
John Bishop (Rescue Me‘s Michael Lombardi) is a minister at a church that has a rockin’ band. He wants to be a hip with the kids preacher and does his best to go into what Jesus wants when it comes to justice. Of course he says all this stuff before his daughter Sarah (Katie Kelly) is found dead on the road. The cops want John to think it’s a case of road rage gone out of control. Detective Jed Sawyer (Ozark‘s Marc Menchaca) knows there was more to it. He too has once had a loved one taken from him by a scumbag psychopath. When Marc tracks down Sarah’s killer, he doesn’t take him down to the station house to begin the booking process. He locks him up in his basement and gives John a simple offer: come over and have a minute alone with the murderer. John can inflict as much pain as he wants, but he can’t kill the guilty bastard. Can the minister really deliver vigilante justice?
The Retaliators plays like a really creepy police procedural TV show. Except instead of having a cop whose hands are tied by the system, we’re given a police detective who has come up with his own system. Although how far does the cop go with his form of justice in the basement will make you wince. The film is extremely well shot and edited to get us deep into the nastiness of several characters. There’s a lot of items dripping with blood and scum. You will want to shower after the end credits. The cast keeps a questioning of morality at the core of the film and not merely the gross out effects. Michael Lombardi pulls off playing the hurting and hip minister. Marc Menchaca is excellent at playing a concerned normal cop until we get into his basement to see his new brand of justice. The movie is full of cool cameos. Brian O’Halloran takes a break from the Clerks movies to be a really huge jerk at a Christmas tree farm. Tommy Lee from Motley Crue pops up as the DJ at a strip club. Members of Papa Roach, Five Finger Death Punch and other bands have roles as victims or victimizers. They also have music on the heavy metal soundtrack. The Retaliators will want you to crank up the home entertainment system to 11 as you see if the minister will take his one minute alone with his daughter’s killer.
The video is 2.35 anamorphic. The transfer brings out the great gel work in the creepy scenes. The audio is 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD MA. You’ll hear the various metal songs on the soundtrack clearly. The movie is subtitled in English.
Interviews (11:11) features many of the cast including members of Five Finger Death Punch. They go into what drew them into the film. They also identify all the various musicians that appear in the action as well as the soundtrack.
The Retaliators Music Videos (21:32) includes several of the bands. The videos use clips from the film, animation and live performances.
Theatrical Trailer (2:29) has the minister forced to choose between God and a desire for vengeance.
Better Noise & Quiver Distribution present The Retaliators. Directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr. & Bridget Smith. Screenplay by Darren Geare & Allen Geare. Starring Michael Lombardi, Marc Menchaca, Joseph Gatt, Katie Kelly, Jacoby Shaddix, Zoltan Bathory & Ivan Moody. Running Time: 96 minutes. Rating: Not Rated. Release Date: February 21, 2023.
