Dead Man Down
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 24
  3. Negative: 8 out of 24
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  1. Movie Nation
    Reviewed by: Roger Moore
    Mar 8, 2013
    38
    Rapace is all over the place with her performance — needy, then self-assured, enraged, then in love. The always feral Farrell seems as dismayed by her as the rest of us.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    Mar 8, 2013
    38
    The film has been directed in a murky, rhythmless fashion by Niels Arden Oplev.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    Mar 10, 2013
    33
    Dead Man Down exerts an unconscionable level of effort for minimal reward: It aspires to exquisite world-weariness, but just ends up feeling exhausted by its frenzied yet fruitless exertions.
  4. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Mar 7, 2013
    30
    It's all so much turgid brooding, dialogue underlined with import, and leaden symbolism involving Rapace's white and red dresses, none of which is salvaged by a typically understated Farrell performance.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Mar 7, 2013
    25
    The action merely meanders when it should be hurtling forward, running in circles when one expects it to head toward a conclusion or some sense of resolution.
  6. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Peter Bradshaw
    May 3, 2013
    20
    Director Niels Arden Orpev was in charge of the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," starring Rapace, but fails to create a revenge thriller with anything like the same focus.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    Mar 7, 2013
    20
    As Scandi directors go, Niels Arden Oplev couldn’t be hotter. After putting his stamp on “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” the Dane has what appears to be his pick of projects. So why follow it up with such revenge-fantasy dreck as Dead Man Down, a derivative collection of brazen plot holes and latenight-cable cliches into which he drags “Dragon” star Noomi Rapace?
  8. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    Mar 7, 2013
    12
    While a mob thriller can be as nasty as it likes, what it can’t be is silly.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Lobster
    10
    A strong character piece filled with developed and visually distinct characters in this police-less gangland. The romance is genuine and the acting is to a tea. Everyone succeeds in their prospective roles interestingly and with panache.… Full Review »
  2. Thegodfatherson
    10
    Director Oplov has done it again! Dead Man Down is unusually brilliant. The paced movie packs up a lot in its 2 hours but it keeps you hanging till the end. Terence Howard is the actor that nailed it in the film. And when this movie ends you don't want it to.… Full Review »
  3. TheWalrus2000
    5
    Dragon Tattoo director falls over his own shoes while trying to create a good environment and character set up for this film. The Mood felt less revengey and more lets talk and then cause of action that people don't exactly want to see.… Full Review »
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