Black Lotus, directed by Todor Chapkanov, attempts to deliver a high-octane action experience set on the dangerous streets of Amsterdam. The film promises a thrilling one-man war against a local crime syndicate, however, despite a promising opening sequence, Black Lotus falls victim to formulaic storytelling and fails to capitalise on its potential.
★★✰✰✰
The film begins with a gripping hostage situation at the German National Opera, where protagonist Matteo (Rico Verhoeven) and his comrade John (Roland Møller) are part of a military strike team. Tragically, John is killed in a shootout when Matteo disobeys orders. Fast forward five years and Matteo, burdened by guilt, decides to visit John’s widow, Helene (Marie Dompnier), and their daughter, Angie (Pippi Casey). Matters become more complicated when Helene’s new husband, Paul (Peter Franzén), finds himself entangled with a menacing mob boss named Saban (Frank Grillo), who kidnaps Angie. Matteo takes it upon himself to rescue her, setting off on a predictable and uninspired journey through Amsterdam’s crime-ridden streets.
On the surface, Black Lotus feels like a film Jean-Claude van Damme would have starred in back in his prime. Rico Verhoeven’s performance as Matteo is serviceable, but is characterised primarily by his physicality. His seven-foot height does make him seem like a badass in his action scenes as he towers above every menacing thug that tries their luck, but fails to fully engage viewers emotionally. Helene feels underutilised, her character given little agency or development. As for the rest of the cast, Peter Franzen brings little to the table as Paul, and Frank Grillo’s Saban is a stereotypical mob boss who equally demonstrates no standout qualities. Overall, the characters fall flat, lacking the necessary depth and complexity to elevate the film’s stale narrative.
Black Lotus suffers from a lack of originality in its storytelling. The plot follows a predictable formula, with little deviation from typical action film tropes. Unremarkable henchmen, an immediate call to violence, and an impossibly invincible macho-man racing against the clock are elements that feel far too overused. The narrative lacks surprises and doesn’t offer any fresh perspectives on the genre, relying on clichéd character arcs and failing to deliver on its initial promise of a thrilling one-man war against a powerful crime syndicate. Black Lotus is at its best when the mindless action is on screen, but the unengaging journey to get there is dragged out and bloats the runtime.
While Todor Chapkanov’s direction attempts to capture the seedy atmosphere of Amsterdam’s underworld, it ultimately falls short of creating a believable experience. Equally, the visuals fail to fully capture the vibrant and dangerous essence of Amsterdam that the plot demands. The production design, while attempting to create a gritty backdrop, lacks originality and fails to create a unique mood for the film.
A lot of the fights border on the unbelievable, with Matteo somehow being a John Wick level of unkillable. He survives a knife through the hand in addition to several other stab wounds and gunshots, yet is still able to stand-off against Saban and save the day. For a film that takes itself very seriously, the injuries seem far too dangerous to comically shrug off. It would be easier to forgive in a more light-hearted or comedic action film, but in Black Lotus it clashes with the darker, realistic tone. The action sequences, though well executed, rely heavily on predictable shootouts and fight scenes which lack innovation and fail to leave a lasting impression.
The action provides brief moments of excitement, but the rest of the film fails to maintain the same level of engagement. Despite the film’s main conflict being Saban’s abduction of Angie, this doesn’t actually happen until over the halfway point of the film, and just when things start to get exciting the subsequent car chase sequence ends.
The Verdict
Despite a promising premise and a few decent fight sequences, Black Lotus fails to deliver anything memorable. The film’s formulaic storytelling, lackluster character development, and unremarkable action sequences leave viewers longing for more. If it had cut back on the dialogue and got into the action quicker, it could have been a winner. As it stands, while it may provide temporary entertainment for fans of the genre there’s nothing to make Black Lotus stand out from any generic Netflix action flick.
Black Lotus is set to release on Digital Download from 19th June.
Words by Kieran Webb
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