I Am Rage

An ancient cult embroiled in a sinister blood trade makes the deadly mistake of abducting a young woman with a violent, shocking past.

You won’t be surprised, then, to learn that you’ve been invited to review I Am Rage, a film presented as a revenge film in which “an ancient cult becomes involved in a brutal blood trade.” Danger made the fatal mistake of kidnapping a young woman by a violent man.” and a traumatic past,” I took the opportunity.

GOOD. Hardly a surprise. Because I’m very picky about the bloody content of these epic battles. Revenge, check. Crossed woman (young), check. Too much blood, guts and gore, no thanks. Although “redundant” in this context is a very mobile party. I think the issue is whether the action disgusts me or not. In this case, despite some crude and gory scenes at the end, my meter was still outside the acceptable range. As for the movie itself, it’s pointless. There’s very little to add to what it says on the tin. Erin (Hannaj Bang Bendz) has a very violent and tragic past. But hello! No spoilers!

In addition to Michael’s girlfriend, Sarah (Antonia Whillans), is also there for the weekend, mainly to play the role of an innocent bystander. Because once the action begins, the only slightly interesting question is whether Sarah will survive. But did I also mention… No spoilers!

She goes on a weekend trip with her boyfriend Adam (Derek Nelson) to see her parents (Jamie B Chambers and Debbie Sheridan), her brother Michael (Luke Aquilina) and sister Margret (Marta Svetek). All are cruel, bloodthirsty psychopaths. Sort of literally, because, as I may have mentioned, they are part of an “ancient cult mixed with a sinister blood trade.” Like a cross between the Addams Family and Christian missionaries.

It’s a neat little movie, with very little going on beyond the obligatory parade of battles set up in the second half as Erin slowly but surely climbs the ranks of the family hierarchy. Although it also comes with a bit of a nagging feeling:
Here and there, strange lines and dialogues that do not belong to serious psychopaths.

The confrontation between Erin and Margret, when it finally arises, is resolved in a predictable manner, as was reported about half an hour earlier. However, it takes an extremely strange turn that can only be understood as a public health warning:
i.e. don’t put anything in your mouth if you don’t know where it is!

Then there’s Wilson (Niko Foster), a psychopath from the even more traditional faction of the ancient blood cult, who shows up to shoot any escapees, peppered with quips. brief and, dare I say, campy.

That just leaves the mystery of where it all took place. Wild atmosphere. More than 100 miles from anywhere, according to one character, which suggests the most isolated regions are Montana or Colorado. Except for the female leads who have the sharpest British accents; and the landscape resembles Cheshire more than it does the Chesapeake.

Do I like this movie? Other than those brief moments when I have to look away, yes! This is a predictable revenge action movie, but it brings a level of wit and self-awareness to the genre that some of its more worthy and serious films fail to do. Ah, the redeeming qualities of even a small camp.

Okay, shut up. According to IMDB, the film was filmed mainly in Scotland. Family scenes were filmed at the heritage Shinness Lodge, near Lairg; the final confrontation between Erin and the cult takes place at the paintball center in Banchory; and yes, it looks like a paintball center!