Rating summary

Movie		1.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		1.0

Reprisal Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 1, 2021

It's pretty much gotten to the point where if Lionsgate releases a Blu-ray with what looks like a (more than?) slightly air brushed photo of Bruce Willis on the cover, certain predictions about the property can probably be made with some assurance. Willis is frequently featured in a supporting role in many of these efforts (at least several of which come with those infamous acronyms of either DTV or VOD attached), in what one might assume is a strategy to maximize pay for minimum time on any given set, and he’s frequently cast as either a bad cop (First Kill) or a good cop, as in this film currently under review. That predictability is just one of many issues confronting Reprisal, a film which is so rote that its paint by numbers approach is actually touted as a virtue in one of several (kind of amazingly snarky at times) interviews included on this Blu-ray disc as a supplement. There’s absolutely nothing in Reprisal that most movie fans, especially “action thriller” aficionados, will not have seen before, and arguably in better over all contexts. In this Lionsgate Blu-ray release featuring a “smooth” looking Willis on the cover, Frank Grillo portrays a family man named Jacob who, along with his wife Christina (Olivia Culpo), has been experiencing some severe financial difficulties due at least in part to the debilitating diabetes suffered by their daughter Sophia (Natalia Sophie Baker). When there’s a horrifying and violent robbery at the bank where Frank works, he’s implicated in the theft, at least from the vantage point of both those investigating the crime as well as the bank itself, leading to a suspension of both employment and income. Luckily for Jacob, his next door neighbor James (Bruce Willis) has a history in law enforcement, and the two band together to figure out who the robber is and how to bring him to justice.

There's probably supposed to be suspense at play with regard to what exactly is going on, and how exactly the robber knew so much about the bank he infiltrated, but Reprisal doesn't seem to know how to keep its cards at least relatively close to its veritable chest. In that regard, the film makes no bones about revealing the identity of the bad guy pretty early on (and so I'm not considering this spoiler material, but those who might are encouraged to avert their eyes now). The "mastermind" is a man named Gabriel (Johnathon Schaech), whose villainous proclivities turn out to have a "secret" motivation (which is itself detailed relatively early in the story), which might have been meant to "humanize" the character, even if as written he's pretty much of an automaton (with a motorcycle).

Reprisal kind of ping pongs between plot points, and as a result there are huge gaps in logic and character development. In this regard, it's actually kind of fun to watch those aforementioned interviews included as bonus features on this disc. Grillo is openly dismissive of the screenplay, suggesting that his "massaging" of things made it better (which begs the question of how bad it must have been to begin with). Culpo may take the cake, however, in terms of self involvement, when she gushes over how "important" her "decision" was to make Christina an equal partner with Jacob. It's probably worth noting that, as with many of these Grade Z efforts that Willis has made a regular part of his CV over the past several years, he's nowhere to be found in the interviews, which a dime will get you a dollar is probably part of his contract.

There might be a fairly enjoyable drinking game constructed out of piecing together a plot summary for Reprisal made out of titles for other less than stellar Willis efforts, with a swig being taken after each successful reference (unfortunately, you'll obviously need to watch the film first before participating in the game, which may or may not make drinking moot by that point). And so, without further ado: when the Vice of Gabriel is uncovered by Jacob and James, the pair become Marauders to set everything right. Unsurprisingly, a Hostage is taken, one who must Survive the Night to get to a happy ending. There are Acts of Violence involved, of course, to get to that point, but no Air Strike, other than incessant establishing drone shots of Cincinnati, where everything takes place. If Jacob and his family are en route to a Trauma Center by the end of the film, at least they're together and smiling, with both Jacob and Christina fawning over their Precious Cargo. Your turn.

Reprisal Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Reprisal is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The closing credits state this was captured with Arri Alexas, and I'm assuming the DI was finished at 2K, but as can clearly be seen in the screenshots accompanying this review, the imagery has been pretty aggressively tweaked, I guess with what's supposed to be digital grain or some (un?)suitable replacement, which gives this entire presentation a rather odd and downright fuzzy look quite a bit of the time. Take a gander at the bottom of Culpo's chin in screenshot 3 for an example of how supposed edges of objects (living or otherwise) can almost look like they have a case of the "jaggies". I'm going to be charitable and assume this was an intentional stylistic decision, but instead of giving this film a supposed "gritty" ambience, it just makes it look almost out of focus at times. See screenshots 17 through 19 for more examples of how weirdly hazy things often are. A prevalence of various grading strategies, including the every popular "thriller blue", also tends to work against fine detail levels at times.

Reprisal Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Reprisal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track fares at least a little better than the video presentation, with some decent surround activity in one of many needless car and/or motorcycle chases that pop up interstitially, arguably to wake everybody up. There is some good engagement of the side and rear channels in these moments and also in sequences like the extended bank robbery, but then things can retreat back to the front and center channels for "ordinary" spoken moments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout, and I noticed no problems with regard to any damage or distortion. Optional English, English SDH and Spanish subtitles are available.

Reprisal Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making Reprisal (1080p; 9:29) is a standard issue EPK for a standard issue movie.


• Cast and Crew Interviews (1080p; 26:27) feature snippets with Brian A. Miller, Frank Grillo, Johnathan Schaech and Olivia Culpo. This gets to be annoying after a moment or two because this has been edited together with edit points accompanied by a loud beeping noise. However, some of the comments may find favor with those with jaded sensibilities, as per the above.


• Reprisal Trailer (1080p; 2:18)

Additionally a digital copy and trailers for other Lionsgate releases (with and without Bruce Willis) are included.

Reprisal Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As I've freely disclosed in several previous reviews, I am unabashed "word geek" with an interest in language and etymology, and in that regard, while "reprisal" and "reprise" spring from different cognates, I have to say Reprise would have been just as good a name for this enterprise, since it covers so much material other films already have. Video is frankly strange looking on this release, though I'm assuming that that is at least in part a deliberate stylistic choice (for better or worse), but audio has some oomph from time to time, and the cast and crew interviews may be worth the price of admission for those who love show business subtext.