You will find out everything you need to know about this latest Netflix action movie Xtremo or Xtreme in the opening five minutes. Our guys walk into a drug deal armed with a couple of handguns and just slaughters everyone. And when I say everyone I mean literally everyone. So, it goes without saying that reality here is secondary. If, however, you’re looking for over-the-top shootouts, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and stylish visuals, you’re in luck. They are well aware that this is a brainless action movie in the vein of John Wick and are leaning hard into it.
Xtremo has only one goal in mind and that’s to entertain. The story is formulaic as shit and the characters stereotypical. So stereotypical that some of the plot twists will not come off as surprising but ridiculous. Since this is a Netflix production with that sweet and stylish cinematography, I immediately thought of French action movies like Lost Bullet and Rogue City. However, the action sequences are just too bloody and visceral for them. So, a much better comparison is Indonesian The Night Comes For Us starring Iko Uwais. Yes, the same Iko from one of the best and most brutally visceral action movies The Raid: Redemption.
The sheer amount of different objects our kickass hero Max is going to be using to dispose of his enemies is stunning. He will be using both a single nail and a nail gun, M-16 rifles, swords, knives, screwdrivers, and basically anything that can be used as a weapon. This also means that fight scenes will be almost completely unrealistic but very well choreographed. The production values are pretty good as we zip through the busy Barcelona streets. I apologize, Barthelona streets.
Max is a dangerous man working for a dangerous gang. His best friend, Lucero is the boss’s son looking to take a shortcut to the top. So, after a brutal shootout, he decides to kill Max and flee the country. And while the guy he sent to do that thinks Max is dead, he actually survives vowing revenge. Two years have passed and Max is living a lonely life in his garage. He repairs cars for a living and spends his entire free time practicing martial arts. It’s like he somehow knew that trouble will find him again. Both him and his new young friend Leo.
I think I fell in love with Barcelona all over again. Beautiful architecture, vibrant atmosphere and just this overall casual vibe. I’m also guessing that appealing cinematography with saturated colors had something to do with it. The pacing in Xtremo is fucking relentless and we never go for more than ten minutes before seeing someone get killed. The cast was solid although I wish we got to see more of Leo’s girlfriend Isa Montalbán as Daniela. For a moment there, I was thinking this is going to turn into Leon.
And to make things even more ludicrous we also have a strange Yakuza connection. I really can’t explain how or why our main guy is apparently a member of this crime syndicate but he is. Plus, Óscar Jaenada as Lucero looks pretty good with all those tattoos. The first time I saw him I thought what the fuck is Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo also known as Don Neto doing here?
The only thing Xtremo is missing is some nudity. However considering all the bloody fun, I’m willing to forgive and forget. Pretty much the same thing you’re going to do as soon as this piece of old-school entertainment is over. Finally, I have a weird recommendation for you. If you’re hungry for some really over-the-top action, do check out Riki Oh: The Story of Ricky. I promise you that you will be blown away.
Director: Daniel Benmayor
Writers: Teo García, Ivan Ledesma, Genaro Rodriguez
Cast: Teo García, Óscar Jaenada, Óscar Casas, Andrea Duro, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Alberto Jo Lee
Fun Facts: First lead role for actor playing Max, Teo García.
Rating:
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11658120/
