Directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr, Bridget Smith and Michael Lombardi
Starring Michael Lombardi, Katie Kelly, Marc Menchaca and Joseph Gatt

Never has a movie confused me so than The Retaliators had done with its premise. After introducing elements of horror and gore, the film proceeds to establish a sturdy foundation of family drama, Catholicism, and ageing rock bands.

Now I don’t necessarily knock the latter decision, lord knows I’ve tuned into a couple movies because a roster of wrestlers baits me in, but even in those cases there was a chorus of mockery from those whose niche wasn’t catered in the transaction. In the case of The Retaliators, I can’t label myself the largest fan of Five Finger Death Punch, and so seeing their name splashed all over the credits and promotion I was given a vague idea of what I was walking into.

Surprising to me was the fact that I underestimated the devotion of its directors in dialling back the clock, not only in its cast but in its memes, themes, and general delivery of schtick. The Retaliators looked like a throw-back to begin with, but after half an hour I realised that it was a recreation of a mid-2000’s campy horror, rearing the best and worst of the period’s output.

A couple of moments through the runtime were laden with laughs, others tortured with terror, few fiendishly filler, and all distinctly out of place amongst today’s typical features. This could’ve been because of its script, cameos, soundtrack, or any other factor but for however much love and devotion may have been tenderly worked into this movie, maybe it was blinded by love because this movie didn’t want to omit a thing which leads to the fact that this movie is long.

Again, this is very much a sign of the times as I can’t think of a single camp-horror from 2006 that reined itself in for the sake of a tight product, but it’s not like it worked with any of the films back then either. The Retaliators journey to the completion of its narrative’s circle is a fine time, thoroughly entertaining, if not enjoyable, and bookended with a genuine coming together of threads.

The rest of the film was a sobering ride to nowhere.

The Retaliators is showing in cinemas across Australia on the 14th and 16th of September then streaming from October 21st.

Moviedoc thanks Better Noise Films and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for providing a screener link to watch and review this film.

Reviewed by Zak Wheeler for Moviedoc

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