I was sent Boon to review so I watched it. Afterwards I had a look at the IMDb page. While on there I had a quick look at the reviews that had been posted and saw that there were quite a few in the one or two star range with comments that couldn’t be much more negative if they tried. That’s when I wondered if I had watched the right film! The film I had just seen was well shot, well acted, well written, and entertaining. Was it perfect? No, obviously! It’s hard to pick a truly 100% film. There are plenty that get close but I have yet to find one that is absolutely spot on.
Boon is entertaining if a little formulaic. But, then again, I’ve often mentioned that there are only so many stories out there so it’s no surprise that you sometimes think you might have seen something elsewhere. The story revolves the eponymous Boon (Neal McDonough). He is, apparently, a former contract killer. Not just any old killer though, he is said to be one of the best; stealthy and lethal. One day he’s had enough and goes on a bit of a shooting spree. As a result he is being hunted by the bad guys as well as the authorities.
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
Clever But Not Original
He hides himself away in one of those little cabins in the middle of nowhere which the USA seems to be, paradoxically, full of. One day he gets found by a contract killer named Killa (Jason Scott Lee) and manages to get shot in the process of getting rid of him. Jason Scott Lee only has a very short cameo and doesn’t actually say a word. When he awakens he is on the sofa of local pastor and widow, Catherine (Christiane Siedel). The formulaic bit is that Catherine and her son, Elijah (Jake Melrose), are being threatened by other bad guys because an inherited debt. Boon comes in to help out even though Agent Redd (Demetrius Grosse) is breathing down his neck.
In charge of the local bad guys is the ever wonderful Tommy Flanagan as Mr Fitzgerald aided by Emilia (Christina Ochoa). The MacGuffin is a tunnel which has one end in Catherine’s garden. This means that bad guy underlings Bud (James Madio) and Pryce (John Patrick Jordan) have carte blanche to act as they feel. What the tunnel is for isn’t properly explained but, frankly, that doesn’t matter. Things come to a head and there is an explosive showdown between Boon, the bad guys, and whichever agency Agent Redd works for.
I’m Going To Smash His Nose With A Shovel
I can’t say much more about how Boon plays out because of spoilers but I’ll just say that some bits you might guess, some you will see coming, but others will take you by surprise. But, in some ways, the originality of the story is irrelevant. The delivery is what makes it entertaining. Co-written by star Neal McDonough and director Derek Presley it rattles along at a reasonable pace; not so face as to lose you but not so slow as to drag. There are a few things which don’t ring true especially given the price of cocaine and the availability of ammunition in the scenario !
One thing that was nice to see was some familiar faces. Neal McDonough has been in Minority Report, Timeline, and Star Trek: First Contact as well as having a recurring role across the MCU as Dum Dum Dugan. The other face I recognised was that of Tommy Flanagan; Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2, Braveheart, Gladiator, Westworld, Gotham, and Sons Of Anarchy. He looks and sounds distinctive and is always great value for money!
Movie Grade: A-
https://youtu.be/8cg7WdTocvI
Indie Movie Review – The Handler (2021)
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
January 4, 2019
RunPee is one of my favourite apps. No more googling a film before you see it and risking spoilers, this app has everything you need to know, not just the best time to go to the toilet. Dan, the developer, also offers an amazing customer service experience. I recently switched phones, and Dan was very generous in sorting things out with me as I moved over to my current system. If you’re an avid film watcher, this is the app for you!
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play StoreDownload RunPee app
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Wicked, Gladiator II, Red One, The Wild Robot and coming soon Moana 2, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kraven the Hunter, Mufasa: The Lion King and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply