Set in the deepest Yorkshire U.K, the film opens by following a Military Witness Relocation Transport guarded by a small group of skillfully armed men. The person being transported is unknown. Soon, the transport is stopped as a large tractor is blocking the road, and the team are attacked by one man who manages to take them out single-handedly without even a drop of sweat. His name is Walker (Daniel Stisen), an international assassin known for being a nobody or a ghost. While his most recent mission is deemed successful, he suspects his identity has been compromised as a witness saw his face and escaped. Walker has been made and must disappear quickly.
Walker is now forced to take on a reassignment and stay at an off-grid facility secretly funded by assassins and mercenaries. The purpose of the secret facility is to quickly provide new identities for those whose identities have been compromised. However, during Walker’s stay, a cold-blooded assault team breaks into the facility to hunt someone their boss wants badly. Now, the clock is ticking, and Walker unwillingly aligns himself with a highly trained hitwoman named Elda (Lauren Okadigbo) and a mysterious woman named Juliet (Yennis Cheung). Working together, they aim to survive the night and take down all the baddies one by one.
If you enjoy seeing a brainless B-grade film with a muscley, singlet-wearing human weapon that kills many people, I will encourage this film. It is harmless, brainless and depending on one’s taste in action films, much fun can be had here. I enjoy watching movies like The Marine with some popcorn for their entertainment value; the same could be said here, too (even with the odd continuity error). It could best be described as an action film inspired by classic 80s action movies such as Die Hard, Rambo etc. The musical score by Brad Watson (also the film’s Director) also has the fun retro vibes of classic action films. It delivers a pleasant, lively atmosphere, including throughout the opening and the use of classical music.
The dialogue consists of cheesy and corny one-liners, overconfident heroes talking about their survival skills and capabilities, not to mention the odd bickering and disagreements on staying alive. Side characters apart from the leads are incredibly goofy and silly such as the staff working in the facility. Most are downright cringe-worthy and laughable (sadly, not for the right reasons). Credit where it’s due; seeing significant improvement from Daniel Stisen as Walker is great. It’s great to see the actor take his ability and confidence up a notch, and the dialogue again feels suitable for the actor. The character, however, has next to no back story, to begin with, and any back story given is, again, cliché and familiar.
Overall, look no further if you enjoy a brainless action film that centres around a sizeable grizzly man with big muscles defeating various bad guys. Popular movies from the 80s, such as Die Hard and Rambo, have clearly inspired The Siege. There’s a fun musical score from Brad Watson (who also directed the film), and as for performances, I felt pretty proud to see Daniel Stisen here. Stisen takes his acting and confidence up a notch compared to some of his previous work, such as Last Man Down. That being said, are there lots of new elements on the table here? Not really. But I was still entertained for good and bad reasons. Watch it if you enjoy popular franchises like The Marine, and switch your mind off. The Siege (2023) is Available on DVD & Digital from March 8th!
5.2/10
4th March 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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