X
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 31 m
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 31 m
Summary Lindy is a beautiful, sardonically-funny woman with a painful secret: Due to a lifelong, rare neurological disorder, she experiences sporadic rage-filled, murderous impulses that can only be stopped when she shocks herself with a special electrode device. Unable to find love and connection in a world that fears her bizarre condition, she...
Directed By: Tanya Wexler
Written By: Scott Wascha
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 31 m
- 2021
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 31 m
Jolt
48
5.5
Where to Watch
Summary Lindy is a beautiful, sardonically-funny woman with a painful secret: Due to a lifelong, rare neurological disorder, she experiences sporadic rage-filled, murderous impulses that can only be stopped when she shocks herself with a special electrode device. Unable to find love and connection in a world that fears her bizarre condition, she...
Directed By: Tanya Wexler
Written By: Scott Wascha
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
48
19% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
75% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
48
19% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
75% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
A B-movie designed by people who knew exactly what kind of enjoyable trash they were making, Jolt is unabashedly silly, sloppily written, and overly reliant on the likability of Beckinsale and fellow cast members Stanley Tucci and Jai Courtney. But it’s also a breezily entertaining reminder of how delightful it is to watch Beckinsale get pissed off.
Once again displaying the kinetic grace, authoritative physicality and heavy-duty footwear that have made her a cult favorite for fans of the “Underworld” franchise, Beckinsale is fun to watch in both the real and fantasy fight sequences that take up much of the briskly paced Jolt.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 55 User Ratings
5.5
36% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
40% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
24% Negative
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 55 User Ratings
5.5
36% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
40% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
24% Negative
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
For something that's could have been just fun, this has an impressively well realised lead character, which lifts it above the standard formulaic action movie into AAA territory. Despite her condensed back-story, within a few minutes of Kate taking over the role you totally get her. Then you know everything is going to go pear shaped, and fortunately the pacing is excellent. The action scenes are brilliantly staged, being visceral and believable. While the film is self-contained, I hope we get to see what she does next.
Report
While Jolt largely fades from memory after watching it, it’s also a difficult movie to dislike. Wexler’s film is breezy, self-aware, occasionally quite funny, and without its end credits, it runs a tight 83 minutes.
What Jolt lacks in originality and subtlety it at least somewhat makes up for in verve.
While it’s not always as sharp as it could be, the energy in Jolt never falters, and there are definitely amusing bits.
Jolt’s generic results are so far removed from its high-concept electrical premise that you have to wonder: Watt the hell happened?
Like the muddled plotting, risible climax and wearisomely foul-mouthed script, Jolt’s budgetary shortcomings might have been endurable if its action scenes passed muster. Alas, they’re barely community theatre standard.
Prime Video released a new action, thriller, Jolt this weekend. You don't even have to leave your home to see Kate Beckinsale kicking butt and not caring about names. Yes, Jolt is one of those action, thrillers but with a twist dealing directly with the lead character's mental health. Kate Beckinsale plays Lindy, a woman who has severe impulse control issues characterized as intermittent explosive disorder. She gets pissed and strikes out in an uncontrollable rage. Lindy has gotten her rages in check with a contraption she wears that will send a shock, or jolt of electricity, if you will, to her. In order to bring some normalcy to her life, Lindy goes on a date with Justin (Jai Courtney), who seems to be a nice guy and a prospect for a lovely future. When Lindy finds out the next morning that Justin was murdered, she sets out on a hunt to find his killer and avenge him. Fights and mayhem ensue.
Above, I gave you a quick plot synopsis. The issue with Jolt is that it makes absolutely no sense. Okay, someone avenging the death in a murderous rampage is par for the course of most action thrillers. The part that is ridiculous here is that Lindy has been on two dates with Justin. Why would she go on this long, violent odyssey to avenge his death? She barely knows him! It does not make any sense that she would do what she does in this movie. Yes, Kate Beckinsale is good, aside from the stupid blonde wig, and she is at least passable in the fight sequences, but the motivation of the character is unbelievable. Unfortunately, that's all there is to this movie.
There are two good things I will note: First, the runtime is short. I clocked it at an hour and 22 minutes, or so before the credits. Although, I do think that the movie goes on a bit after it actually should have ended. Otherwise, there isn't any wasted time. Second, predictably, there are two cops (Bobby Canavale and Laverne Cox) chasing Lindy as she tears through the city looking for Justin's killer. The best scene of the movie that made me laugh out loud took place during a chase scene between Beckinsale and Cox in a hospital. I won't spoil anymore than that. At the very least, that scene is a must see.
Ultimately, Jolt is a ridiculous thriller with a premise that doesn't make a lot of sense. The mental health issue of the lead is treated rather flippantly, but while there are good fight sequences, it doesn't add up to much. If you have an hour and 22 or so minutes free and nothing else to watch, then grab a handful of popcorn for this one should hold you.
Report
Horrible wannabe action film that was so contrived that it was probably dumped yet again on a streaming service. It aims to become a John Wick like franchise, yet fails to deliver any memorable action set pieces whatsoever. Moreover, if you see the arc of this character, she would have looked like a 'Ronda Rousey'- MMA type person, not somebody like Kate Beckinsdale. You are lead to believe that somebody as dysfunctional as her would be patient enough to draw perfect make up, and looking great throughout the movie. Again folks, believability and context are important in these types of flicks. So when they went ballistic with the action sequences, audiences would go on with the ride. This one didn't achieve that purpose.
Report
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
Report
Awards
ReFrame
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Australian Cinematographers Society
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
