Review: Guns Akimbo

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:
Miles’s (Daniel Radcliffe) nerdy existence as a video game developer takes a dramatic turn when he inadvertently gets caught up as the next contestant with SKIZM, an underground gang livestreaming real-life death matches. While Miles excels at running away from everything, that won’t help him outlast Nix (Samara Weaving), a killer at the top of her game.

What We Thought:

The Harry Potter franchise may have made Daniel Radcliffe a household name, but he’s making damn sure it’s not why he stays famous. With movies like Horns, Swiss Army Man and this film, Guns Akimbo, he’s 100% trying to distance himself from the glasses wearing wizard. And I am here for it. I wasn’t a Harry Potter fan (I’ve seen like 2.5 movies), but I am a Daniel Radcliffe fan nowadays.

As for Guns Akimbo, it reminded me of a bunch of other movies we’ve seen over the past few years. If you read the synopsis up top you’ll know what it’s about. We’ve seen a few “livestreaming” movies already. Nerve starring Emma Roberts and Dave Franco from 2016 immediately comes to mind. We’ve seen super violent movies using video game violence styling before as well. It’s not 1st Person POV like Hardcore Henry, but there is a ton of camera movement during some action sequences. Lots of cameras strapped to chests as the character falls down or 360 pans or spins.

Even though it does remind me of other movies, I did like it overall. I do genuinely think Radcliffe is a good actor and he’s good here. With guns bolted to his hands, his nerd character must learn to stop running and fight back especially against Samara Weaving. I’m becoming a big fan of hers. I quite liked her in Ready or Not and she’s almost unrecognizable here. She’s the super violent nemesis who is out to kill Radcliffe’s character in order to get out of playing the game herself. She’s given a backstory for why she’s involved and I almost didn’t recognize the beautiful actress at first in a look that would make Lisbeth Salander proud.

Guns Akimbo is fast paced, a bit choppy, full of quick cuts and quicker editing. If your attention span is trash (like mine) during this lock down, this film is perfect for you. If you are a Radcliffe fan expecting Harry Potter, this is not for you. But if you prefer him more bizarre like Swiss Army Man, give this one a try. It’s not a complete home run and I don’t know if I would watch again especially anytime soon, but it’s good for at least one viewing while we have nothing better to do.

CAST
Daniel Radcliffe           Harry Potter franchise, Imperium, Now You See Me 2
Samara Weaving        Ready or Not, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Babysitter
Natasha Liu Bordizzo The Greatest Showman, Hotel Mumbai
Ned Dennehy              “Good Omens,” Child 44, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Grant Bowler               Atlas Shrugged: Part I, “True Blood,” “Ugly Betty”
Edwin Wright               King Kong, The Meg, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Rhys Darby                  “Life in Pieces,” Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Pirate Radio