‘Reckless’ Review
Stars: Scott Adkins, Vinnie Jones, Dean Gaffney, Nicole Deon, Kris Johnson, Mark Strange | Written by Matthew Robert Kelly, Stu Small | Directed by Elliott Montello
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve opened a review with a line like, “I’ll watch anything with Scott Adkins.” But the sentiment always stands. If I see that name, or that face, on a poster, chances are I’m watching the film, no questions asked. This time around, we have Reckless, a lower-budget but high-energy crime flick that sees Adkins in the lead, standing opposite everyone’s favourite Brit baddie Vinnie Jones, alongside a whole host of British talent, including Dean bloody Gaffney. Yes, that Dean Gaffney. And honestly, that’s just the start.
Because Reckless has a lot more going for it than the trailer might initially suggest. Yes, it promises a fun, balls-to-the-wall, punchy-kicky, adrenaline-fuelled comedic romp, but behind the scenes, there’s some serious pedigree. The film is directed by Elliott Montello, who cut his teeth as a cinematographer and second unit director on a number of familiar titles, including the Bruce Willis “Knight” series. It’s co-written by Stu Small, a frequent collaborator on Adkins-led favourites like Avengement, Accident Man and Debt Collectors. And then there’s the small matter of Jude Poyer, the gold freaking standard of stunt work, onboard as stunt coordinator. All of that before you even get to the talent in front of the camera.
Set five years after a botched robbery, Devon is fresh out of prison, on parole, and already making terrible life choices. Played by Adkins, Devon has one simple goal: get his share of the heist money and disappear into a quieter, less gun-toting, punch-filled life. Unfortunately for him, there is no money, and it quickly becomes clear that honour amongst thieves only ever runs one way. Before long, Devon finds himself tangled up with Kimber (Nicole Deon), a woman in desperate need of protection who keeps inadvertently escalating every dangerous situation he lands in. Now Devon has crime boss Trent (Vinnie Jones) trying to take him out, battle-hardened Detective Jackson (Kris Johnson) determined to put him away for good, and his delightfully terrifying, psychopathic prison “sugar daddy” Bishop (Mark Strange), who just wants to kill and, well, let’s say, really ruin his day. Yes. In that order.
In short, Reckless is a fast, chaotic speed-run through the criminal underworld, where loyalties shift faster than Devon’s escape plans. Deals go bad, fists fly, bullets narrowly miss, and every “simple solution” somehow makes everything much, much worse. With sharp dialogue, dark humour, and bursts of bone-crunching action, the film leans hard into the idea that sometimes the worst plan is the only plan.
Adkins, as always, is on point. Devon feels like a fusion of Cain (Avengement) and French (Debt Collectors), a hapless, unlucky son of a gun you can root for as he stumbles from one disaster to the next and cheer for when he finally starts throwing down. This isn’t a role that stretches Adkins, but it gives him plenty of dicey dialogue and space to shine, reminding us exactly why he remains such a compelling screen presence. Crucially, though, he never overwhelms the ensemble, and that’s where this movie truly excels.
That ensemble is bolstered significantly by Nicole Deon as Kimber, who proves to be something of a revelation. She brings real energy and personality to the role, never feeling like a plot device or passenger, and more than holds her own amid the chaos.
Vinnie Jones is, unsurprisingly, Vinnie Jones, and that’s exactly what the role of Trent requires. A sinister presence, sharp one-liners, and just enough menace to keep things ticking over. He clearly got the memo. Another standout on the villain front is Mark Strange, who looks like he’s having an absolute blast as Bishop. Strange gets the best lines in the entire film, none of which I can responsibly repeat here, so good in fact that the end-credits track features a collection of his dialogue. As performances go, this one is, as the youth might say, a full-on French kiss.
Of course, every good Brit punchy-kicky gangster flick needs a dogged copper on the chase, and Detective Jackson fits the bill perfectly. Played by Kris Johnson, a face you’ll recognise from countless genre outings, this role allows him to flip expectations. Typically cast as a villain, here Johnson shines as a morally grey, relentless detective, locking horns with Vinnie Jones and stealing every scene they share. His presence helps ground the film’s heightened, stylised world, and Johnson deserves serious credit for elevating what could have been a stock character.
What really stands out about Montello as a director is the clarity of his vision. It’s evident in the musical choices, the slick animated character introductions, and the run-and-gun approach to the fight sequences. Stylistically, it sits somewhere between Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn, filtered through the budget-conscious sensibilities of Jesse V. Johnson, and that’s meant as high praise. Coming from a cinematography background, Montello knows exactly how he wants his shots to look and feel, and even seemingly throwaway scenes become visual centrepieces. He had a solid blueprint, a strong cast, and executed the plan with confidence.
In short, Reckless is a film you should absolutely make time for. It punches well above its budget, knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be, and delivers the goods with style and swagger. The jokes land just as cleanly as a perfectly timed spin kick to the head, and by the time the credits roll, you’ll likely be grinning ear to ear.
With Reckless Elliott Montello has our attention, now let’s see what he does next to keep it.
****½ 4.5/5
Reckless is available to watch on Now TV now.
Side note: If anyone wanted to make a spin-off centred on Mark Strange’s Bishop, I’d be all over that idea like you wouldn’t believe. In fact, I might just go start a Kickstarter.
