Driven to Kill (2009)

Directed by: Jeff King | 96 minutes | action, thriller | Actors: Steven Seagal, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Igor Jijikine, Robert Wisden, Inna Korobkina, Zak Santiago, Alexander Rafalski, Yevgeni Lazarev, Laura Mennell, Aleks Paunovic, Ingrid Torrance

‘Driven to Kill’ as the title, ‘They took his daughter. So he’s taking them down’ as tagline. And then a picture of Seagal. Steven Seagal. With a loaded gun, an intense gaze and an exploding background. What more could you want?

Okay. The plot is thin, the cast is mostly on standby, and the developments are negligible. A standard revenge plot where dozens of films run out of budget every year; more than you can get from the summary of the story above is not even necessary. Sometimes that standard revenge plot produces a successful (because compelling, dark) character sketch that gets no fewer than four sequels and dozens of spin-offs, when you have the indestructible Charles Bronson portray the conscious avenger (‘Death Wish’). Or it becomes a surprisingly strong and rash action-cracker, when, for example, Liam Neeson is out for retaliation (‘Taken’). And sometimes, sometimes it just makes for a Steven Seagal movie. What more could you want?

Oh, Steven. Stoic muscle bundle that can bring all the intensity of the complete spectrum of facial expressions to the stage with one look. Unlikely but celebrated reincarnation of a Buddhist lama (as announced in 1997 by its religious leader, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche). Casual neck breaker that doesn’t need a plot to carry a movie, or weapons to take down an opponent. What else do you need a coherent story for, if you can submit a CV like Steven’s and build film after film around the same caricature? From debut ‘Above the Law’ through 90s action-standard ‘Under Siege’ to ecologically responsible political works like ‘On Deadly Ground’ and ‘Fire Down Below’, and via unequivocally titled and not very subtly shot films like ‘Marked For Death’ ‘, ‘Out for a Kill’ and ‘Today You Die’ to the 2010 release that finally covers the whole load – ‘Born to Raise Hell’ – Steven never disappoints. Not even in ‘Driven to Kill’. Bake that popcorn. Shout out to that almost endless army of Russian victims, with their broken pride, honor and limbs. And cheer for that amateur physiotherapist and his concentrated and unsurpassed mastery of the crying, praying, laughing, fighting and acting arts.

Two stars to give an indication of the relationship to the average (decent) action thriller, four for the undoubtedly (and rightly) very extensive fan base of the action hero-with-ponytail, and therefore three for the overall picture. Three stars and a wink from The Great One. The Master of Aikido. Lord Steven.