Based on a Spanish film, El Desconocido, translated into English as The Stranger, the film Retribution takes the original’s core theme of a man facing the consequences for his shady dealings and transforms it into a gripping tale of an innocent man fighting to protect his family. In the film, Liam Neeson takes on the role of Matt Turner, a successful banker and family man who grapples with the challenges of being a parent in today’s modern (low) attention society, with a large number of screens in the world (a representation of how distant and closed off the family is from another). Unlike his previous roles as a devoted father, Liam Neeson takes on a character grappling with being involved in his family’s life.

Living in a luxurious glass house in Berlin with his wife and two children, Matt’s authority as a father is undermined by the changing roles of his business and the changing relationships he has with his wife and children in the landscape around him. His lack of control and inability to establish his authority in the house is quite the challenge involving his daughter, Emily, and son, Zach. The film paints a picture of a man who, despite his high-powered career, is increasingly irrelevant and ineffectual in his own household.

Story

The story starts out with a typical interaction between a somewhat aloof father (in terms of home life, not knowing about his wife’s day-to-day activities, his daughter’s soccer matches, or his son’s girlfriend) as he attempts to be more helpful by driving his kids for the first time. One takes a dramatic turn when Matt receives a chilling phone call while taking his children to school in his Mercedes SUV. The voice on the other end informs him that there is a bomb planted in his car, specifically under the driver’s seat. Matt is instructed to follow the caller’s every command or the bomb will detonate. The stakes are high, as the caller has already demonstrated their seriousness by similarly killing another executive.

Matt is left grappling with questions about who is behind it, why he was targeted, and how to get his family out of this situation. The answers unfold throughout the thrilling and satisfying 90-minute ride. The film cleverly guides Neeson’s character through the perilous situation, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats, with the audience almost feeling like a passenger in the car with the family.

As the film unfolds, the audience is left questioning the motivations of the mysterious bomber and what Matt could have done to deserve such a terrifying ordeal. The tension builds as Matt is coerced into making phone calls to his distant wife, business associates, and even a Europol investigator while desperately trying to keep his family safe and sound from the bomb being detonated by the villain with a mysterious voice.
Neeson, known for his harsh and gritty characters, is forced to embrace vulnerability in Retribution. Matt’s world crumbles around him, so he must balance compliance with the villain and survival. The film showcases Neeson’s acting range, portraying a man desperate to protect his loved ones, even if it means sacrificing his principles.

While the film initially captivates with its suspenseful setup and questions, it eventually veers into more familiar territory for Neeson – an action-packed sequence of events. The story may remind the audience of past films, such as Speed.

Ultimately, the true triumph for Matt lies not in defeating his enemies but in finding his strength in his responsibilities and showing his care and love for his family as a father and husband.