Bad Samaritan

Bad Samaritan is a heart-pounding, high-stakes thriller released in 2018, which boldly spotlights the darker corners of human nature through its exploration of two men on opposite ends of the moral spectrum. Featuring a riveting narrative by Brandon Boyce and masterful directing from Dean Devlin, this suspenseful movie combines raw emotional intensity with chilling horror elements to weave a captivating tale of deceit, danger and moral ambiguity. Boasting outstanding performances by stars like David Tennant, Robert Sheehan, and Kerry Condon, Bad Samaritan is a disturbing yet powerful film, rendering a gruesome depiction of criminality and offering an exploration of individual courage in the face of absolute evil.

The film introduces us to the tattered life of the lead character, Sean Falco (Robert Sheehan), a young, troubled photographer, who, together with his friend Derek Sandoval (Carlito Olivero), operates a small-time burglary business on the side of his day job as a valet at an upscale Italian restaurant. The duo has mastered the art of exploiting their position as valets to rob their rich customers' houses whilst they dine. The stakes escalate to horrifying extremes when Falco stumbles upon a startling discovery in the home of a customer, Cale Erendreich, portrayed in bone-chilling intensity by none other than David Tennant of Doctor Who fame.

From the offset, Tennant's Erendreich is a chillingly calm and composed businessman with a debonair appearance that barely veils a cold, manipulative persona. His life takes an uncanny turn when Falco discovers a woman, Kerry (Kerry Condon), chained and tormented in his lavish estate. Consumed by both fear and guilt, Falco instantly finds himself trapped between his desire to save the woman and the fear of what Erendreich can unleash upon him should he interfere.

What follows is a tension-filled cat-and-mouse chase between two decidedly different individuals entwined by the dreadful secret they now share. Erendreich, a psychopath cloaked in sophistication, is brought to life by David Tennant with riveting intensity. His portrayal is, in a word, terrifying. And it only intensifies as he begins his relentless pursuit of Falco and Derek.

Meanwhile, Robert Sheehan presents an impressive range as the tormented yet steadfast Sean Falco, who steadily musters the courage to rescue Kerry, despite the imminent danger standing in his way. As the narrative progresses, the audience is exposed to Falco’s inner transformation from a petty thief to a remorseful man who is prepared to risk it all to rectify his past mistakes and stand up against a psychopathic adversary.

Throughout Bad Samaritan, the audience is lured into the twisting tale of suspense, which is only magnified by Devlin's mastery of creating tension by exploiting the environments where the narrative unfolds. The ever-present drama is accentuated by the desolate beauty of Oregon, the snow-capped mountains, the wide, haunted expanses of woodlands, and the impressive drone shots of Portland cityscape, forming a stark contrast to the inconceivable horror that unfolds behind closed doors.

Bad Samaritan thus skillfully blends the elements of a thriller and horror film, efficiently utilizing its foreboding atmosphere to create a sense of tension and dread that seizes the audience from start to end. With its layered narrative not only focusing on crime and punishment but also exploring themes of redemption and courage, the film manages to shine a searing spotlight on the darker aspects of human nature.

This, combined with an effective script that powerfully brings to life the complex dynamics between the characters, a captivating storyline, and highly emotive performances by its lead cast, makes Bad Samaritan a compelling thriller that will surely resonate with its audience long after the end credits roll.