Liam Neeson must drive to survive in the gripping first trailer of Lionsgate’s Retribution. Even at the age of 71, Neeson continues to redefine the action genre, portraying grounded characters who are unexpectedly thrust into the world of, you guessed it, retribution. As you’ve come to expect, the actor’s forthcoming action thriller stays true to its roots with adrenaline-pumping high-speed car chases and a plethora of explosive moments.
Helmed by director Nimród Antal, the forthcoming movie is a reimagining of 2015’s Spanish-language thriller El Desconocido. This fresh adaptation follows the story of Matt Turner, played by Liam Neeson, who finds himself in a predicament. While driving with his children, Turner receives a harrowing call from an unknown caller, revealing that his car is rigged with a lethal bomb that will detonate if anyone dares to step out. What ensues is a thrilling high-octane chase, as Turner races against time to protect his family.
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As per the film’s official logline: “When a mysterious caller puts a bomb under his car seat, Matt Turner (Neeson) begins a high-speed chase across the city to complete a specific series of tasks. With his kids trapped in the back seat and a bomb that will explode if they get out of the car, a normal commute becomes a twisted game of life or death as Matt follows the stranger’s increasingly dangerous instructions in a race against time to save his family.”
The tantalising first Retribution trailer gives us a peek at the film’s plot, offering a glimpse at how Neeson and his family try to evade and outmanoeuvre the situation they find themselves in. It opens with Neeson and his kids enjoying an ordinary car ride, unaware of the impending danger. However, everything changes when an anonymous caller delivers a chilling message, saying “There’s a bomb under your seat. If you…” Initially dismissing it as a mere prank, Neeson hangs up the call. However, his disbelief turns into stark reality when a car explodes right before his eyes, leaving him in shock. We hear the caller’s words in the background, “Do I have your attention?” From then on, Neeson is forced to uncover the mystery behind the threat and protect his family from the imminent danger that surrounds them.
“Honey, something’s happened,” Neeson explains the alarming situation to his wife on call. “There’s a man who has put a bomb in the car. Under our seats, there are pressure triggers. We can’t get out. The car will explode.”
The tension continues to build as the mysterious caller instructs Neeson to drive to a specific location. Once there, the anonymous caller commands Neeson’s Matt to use the gun stashed in the glove box to take another man’s life. “His life or yours,” the caller declares. Defying the caller’s demand, Neeson chooses not to pull the trigger, prioritising humanity over violence. However, the consequences of his decision are swift and devastating. In a shocking turn of events, the other car instantly explodes before Neeson and his children, leaving them in a state of profound shock. As the dust settles, the voice of the caller cuts through the aftermath, accusing Neeson of the bombing, saying, “You’re a murderer now, Matt.”
The trailer also offers glimpses of Neeson’s early life and his relentless efforts to evade the pursuing authorities, establish his innocence, and apprehend the mastermind behind it all. As the tension mounts, Neeson’s calm reaches a boiling point and when the caller arrogantly asserts their control, he lashes out at him with unbridled intensity. “No, you’re not! You hurt my daughter, you son of a bitch. I will kill you,” says Matt.
In addition to Neeson, Retribution co-stars Matthew Modine, Noma Dumezweni, Jack Champion, Lilly Aspell and Embeth Davidtz. The film’s script is penned by Chris Salmanpour and Andrew Baldwin, while Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman, Jaume Collet-Serra and Juan Sola serve as producers on the project.
Lionsgate is billing the flick as “an immersive ticking clock thriller that straps audiences in for a high-octane ride of redemption and revenge.” Retribution hits theatres on August 25.
