Shadow Force is an action thriller film about the lives of a couple who led a black ops team but went AWOL when they broke protocol. Kyrah and Isaac get a massive bounty on their heads and that of their son, as their former commander, Jack Cinder, played by Mark Strong, sends the rest of the team to handle them. Shadow Force was directed by Joe Carnahan and co-written by Carnahan and Leon Chills. It stars Kerry Washington, Strong, Omar Sy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Cliff “Method Man” Smith.

Expectations are Lowered

Shadow Force sets up expectations for a gripping action feel due to its brilliant casting. The film reflects the protective nature of parents and the risks they take for their kids. The opening scene breaks away from other action thrillers where the man is usually the one out protecting his family; in Shadow Force, it’s the other way around. Kyrah, played by Washington, is seen eliminating a target while her husband babysits their kid. Some emotional moments also make the film more realistic, such as a few scenes where Isaac, played by Sy, and his son, played by Kamara, bond by sharing stories and singing together. This adds a touch of emotional impact to the film.

Shadow Force is action-packed and has some outstanding movie stars, but there’s nothing extraordinary about it. The storyline sticks to a formula that viewers are familiar with. Isaac goes to the bank with his son and a few minutes in, a robbery operation begins. Showing the viewers the whole dramatization of how Isaac beat up the robbers would have made that scene stand out; instead, the audience is introduced to a scene that looks like someone’s playing with a flickering light bulb. The dialogue ranks above average thanks to Strong. Strong’s humor was exceptional this film. The movie stars present in Shadow Force make the film seem ultimately interesting from a distance, but not much is done to make it captivating. Isaac’s dialogue with his son might strike a debate among parents. In one scene, Ky asks his father some serious questions that many parents may believe don’t deserve an honest answer because of his young age. But his father answered honestly, making the scene stand out.

Despite the Brilliant Casting…

It’s almost impossible to believe that Shadow Force doesn’t rank above average despite the actors in it. Strong, who’s well known for his brilliant performance in the franchise Kingsman, plays the role of a dirty secretary general in this film. The majority of his fans may be disappointed in this one due to the film’s storyline. Sy from the French series Lupin also appears in the film. While his performance wasn’t entirely different from what his fans are used to, he didn’t do much to make the film engaging. Washington, who performed as a military officer in the war drama The Six Triple Eight, plays a unique role in Shadow Force. Despite the film’s mediocrity, Washington risking her life for her son and her husband can’t go unnoticed. It tells the audience that a mother’s love has no limit. Randolph, known for her incredible performance in Holdovers, and Smith from Power Book II: Ghost, were also featured in Shadow Force.