VANQUISH

VANQUISH is a crime thriller about a retired, paralyzed crooked cop who forces his caretaker, a former Russian drug courier, to retrieve money from other violent criminals by his taking her seriously ill young daughter hostage. VANQUISH has some touching “mother/daughter” moments but is otherwise poorly written and wrought with lots of bloody violence and foul language, drug references, and brief lewd content.

VANQUISH opens with an elderly, paraplegic, retired cop, Damon, confessing to his priest that he thinks about leaving his life of crime behind him, and living a new life on the straight and narrow. Victoria, Damon’s caretaker, confides in him that her daughter is seriously ill. A former drug courier for the Russian mob, Victoria believes God has made her daughter ill to punish her for her crimes. In fatherly concern, Damon reassures Victoria that God doesn’t work that way. He shows genuine care and feelings for the young mother and her daughter.

The sentiment seems short-lived, however, when he forces Victoria to retrieve some money owed to him by other criminals by his kidnapping her seriously ill young daughter and holding her hostage. Victoria tries to assert she doesn’t want to commit any more crimes. She believes her daughter is the only thing in life she has done right, and so has committed herself to live a better life. Now, faced with committing crimes or losing her daughter, Victoria feels she has no choice. She will do anything to protect her daughter.

Chaos and mayhem ensue. Victoria makes a dramatic shift from a loving mother, to a woman who shoots people in the head at point blank range and has no qualms about it. Carrying out several drug related cash pickups, she goes on a killing spree, wiping out more than a dozen people. She is a woman who is both a victim and a deadly assassin.

Victoria dons a bodycam during her spree. Damon remains at “the helm” from his laptop. He gives step-by-step instructions, to his motorcycle-driving, gun-wielding puppet. At her final stop, Victoria becomes aware that Damon’s targets are all too familiar. Is there more to Damon’s orders than meets the eye?

VANQUISH has some touching “mother/daughter” moments. The film tries to show what a mother would do to keep her daughter safe, which resonates with the audience. However, Victoria’s character shifts from being motherly and endearing to emotionless behavior and rage. None of it is believable. It’s hard for viewers to support Victoria, because the movie gives them no idea who she really is. The audience tries desperately to get on board with the award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, but his unappealing role makes it impossible. His character spends most of his time at a computer with what plays like a Grand Theft Auto video game.

VANQUISH is poorly written. It is wrought with bloody violence and foul language, with some drug references and brief lewd content. VANQUISH is unacceptable entertainment for all audiences.