Samaritan
2022 · Directed by Julius Avery
Original language: English
- science fiction
- crime
- action
The story
Thirteen year old Sam Cleary suspects that his mysteriously reclusive neighbor Mr. Smith is actually the legendary vigilante Samaritan, who was reported dead 25 years ago. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbor out of hiding to save the city from ruin.
What it’s like
Grey, rain-washed streets and a decaying city of concrete towers and smoke-stained skies give Samaritan a dusty, sodden look, with murky night scenes lit by flickering streetlamps, sirens-red glow and the occasional flare of fire from riots. Camera work leans handheld and close during the street-level chases and fights, while quieter scenes between the boy and his reclusive neighbor settle into steadier framing in cramped apartments and dim hallways. The score is a heavy, pulsing mix of synth and orchestral swells that gives the action a driving weight. The vibe is gritty, melancholic and earnest, a blend of comic-book myth and working-class grime. Pacing builds steadily toward large, chaotic set pieces, with a lonely old man and a stubborn young boy slowly forming a bond built on trust and loss. Violence is frequent and physical, with brawls, shootings and crashes that are fairly bloody but not gory; there is some peril and grief along the way. It suits a rainy evening or a late night watch for people who enjoy superhero stories grounded in poverty and damaged heroes, and who are fine with a darker, more brutal tone.
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