The Equalizer 3 Review: Denzel Washington Tears Italian Mafia A New One In Picturesque, Brutal Vigilante Sequel

The Equalizer 3 (NC16)

Starring Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning

Directed by Antonie Fuqua

No one delivers the wrath of God like Denzel Washington. In Man on Fire, his vendetta-seeking character explains why he isn’t big on clemency. “Forgiveness is between them and God,” he states. “It’s my job to arrange the meeting.” The divine duty theme circles back in this threequel — and final instalment in the franchise — where Washington’s OCD-stricken black ops agent-turned-vigilante Robert McCall believes he’s put on Earth to do the Lord’s work, in a quaint fishing town in Southern Italy, where the residents are terrified by the Mafia. So, when McCall isn’t soaking up the local sights, he’s going Old Testament on the miscreants’ asses. The kills, nasty as hell, are more stealthy than showy, more Michael Myers than John Wick, but still perversely satisfying. Washington says he’s done with the series but perhaps his son, John David, can take up the mantle in the prequels. Can you see it? (3/5 stars) out in cinemas

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos 

Gran Turismo: Based On A True Story (PG13)

Starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Gerri Halliwell, Djimon Hounsou

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

Gran Turismo tells the unbelievable true story of Jann Mardenborough (Madekwe), an avid player of the titular simulator who overcame all odds to become a race-car driver (hello, 24 Hours of Le Mans!). It’s so outlandish that a ‘based on a true story’ disclaimer is stuck to the title. Beyond the dangerously unsound premise, Mardenborough’s passage from e-athlete to extreme sportsman is a serviceable underdog tale (think The Last Starfighter meets Days of Thunder), with Harbour giving a heartfelt performance as Mardenborough’s cynical but caring mentor. Of course, it's also a marketing movie: I want a PS5 console for Christmas! (2.5/5stars) out in cinemas

Photo: TPG News/Click Photos  

Antikalpa (NC16)

Starring Huang Guan Zhi, Legina Lei, Troy Liu, Tseng Wan Ting

Directed by Philip Shih

This Taiwanese import, like Talk to Me, deals with young people who should know better than to mess with the occult. Here, they summon the forces of darkness to help them win a karate tournament. That, and aid a teammate in locating her aunt, who went missing after visiting an evil cult. Or something like that. The chills are lukewarm while the story is bogged down by back stories and last-minute character appearances. Imagine being invited to a dinner party when they started serving desserts. What did I miss? A lot, and not much. The real world is much scarier. (2/5 stars) out in cinemas

Photo: Encore Films