ACTS OF VIOLENCE (2018) ***

Roman (Ashton Holmes) is about to be married to his childhood sweetheart Mia (Melissa Bolona).  When she is kidnapped by white slavers during her bachelorette party, Roman enlists the help of his Army Ranger brothers (Cole Hauser and Shawn Ashmore) to get her back.  Meanwhile, a detective on the case (Bruce Willis) tries to bring the slavers down using good old-fashioned law and order, although he knows the system is pretty much broken.

On the surface, Acts of Violence looks like it’s going to be another one of Willis’ interchangeable DTV actioners.  In most of these things, Willis has a leading role, but only appears briefly throughout the film.  The surprising thing about this one is that the script finds an organic way to work him into the story.  His role may be smallish, but at least he’s given a character worthy of his talents.  Apparently, he was only on the set for a day, although you’d never know because he’s so well utilized.

It also helps that the central story involving the three brothers is well-acted and absorbing.  I liked seeing them using their military training and transplanting their skills into an urban environment.  The performances by Hauser (who is suffering from PTSD) and Ashmore (the levelheaded family man) are solid and Bolona does a good job as the kidnapped sister.  It was also great seeing the usually funny Mike Epps (who also appeared in Death Wish with Willis) in a sinister turn as the head of the white slavery operation.

I’m a sucker for these Death Wish/Taken variations.  This one has enough twists on the formula while delivering on the exploitation goods you’d want from a revenge thriller.  It also helps that the action sequences are competently staged and crisply filmed, with none of that shaky-cam shit to get in the way.  Acts of Violence won’t win any awards, but it’s an entertaining way for an action fan to kill 86 minutes.