It has been almost eight years since Mel Gibson has starred in a film. What was his last movie? Signs in 2002. Finally, he returns to the big screen in Edge of Darkness and what a return it is. Gibson plays a character that is out for revenge and nothing will stop him. Gibson has been great at this type of role and the proof is in Mad Max, Ransom, and Payback. Gibson may show more wrinkles and grey hair, but it actually fits his character due to the emotional tone in the film. But even if it did not, Gibson is a movie star, a great actor, and his star still shines bright.
Edge of Darkness is about a Boston detective, Thomas Craven (Gibson), and his daughter who is killed on his front doorstep. At first, it is assumed that the bullet was for Thomas, not his daughter. However, Craven knew something was wrong with his daughter as soon as she showed up and that whoever killed her meant to do it. Of course, he goes to work on her case and seeks to find out who did this and why. But the murder is more complex and reveals more than a few secrets.
The story twists and turns, and Craven finds out more about his daughter and her role at work. She worked for Northmoor, a corporation where most of their activities are classified, so we automatically know something corrupt is going on. To make things even worse on Craven, the government is also involved in all of this. So things do get complicated and may be too much for a Boston detective.
First of all, it is so cool to see Gibson doing a film again and portraying a man like Craven. This guy’s daughter dies in his arms and Gibson makes you feel his loss. His pain. Through the film, his daughter (a younger version) talks to him and there are flashbacks of him and her spending time together, and cherishing what they had. And the film gives Craven time to grieve before he turns more pissed and hell-bent than depressed and sad.
Gibson shows these emotions on-screen. He plays a father who has lost his only child. Having one of your kids die is a tough thing for any parent, but when one is shot right in front of you that effects you in a terrible way. And Craven takes no shit from anyone and is a man with nothing to lose. It is exciting to watch what Gibson does with this character and how he balances and pushes the boundaries of being a detective, but also a father who has lost everything. It is exciting and thrilling to watch what he does next.
Danny Huston plays the chairman of Northmoor and he does it quite well. Houston has played the sinister villain in a few movies (30 Days of Night, The Proposition, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), but when he appears to be sophisticated and sharply dressed, it takes on a new evil. And his facial expressions show he is up to no good. Then there is Ray Winstone who plays a guy who you come to when you cannot go to anyone else. You have a terrible mess and you need it cleaned up in a very quiet way. The beauty of Winstone’s character is you never know which side he is on. But you can tell that there is some mutual respect between him and Craven, but that does not mean Winstone can save or help him. I must say when Gibson and Winstone are on-screen together, their conversation and acting is top-notch.
Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) directed this film and it came from a 1985 BBC mini-series, which Campbell directed as well. This film, especially from the previews, appears to be like last year’s Taken. I enjoyed Taken very much, but Edge of Darkness has a better script and a more intelligent story. There is more involved in this film and there is a difference between a daughter getting kidnapped and one being killed. That changes the complete tone of a movie.
Now Taken has a faster pace and more action, but Campbell keeps this film at a pace where the characters can develop and the story can unfold piece by piece. Campbell shows violence when it is necessary, but does not overshadow the story. There is so much involved in this film and the more information that is revealed the deeper it gets. Edge of Darkness is an impressive, gritty crime thriller that is so much more than it appears to be. It is brilliant, violent, entertaining, and keeps you engaged the entire time. The performances give the film some truth, and no one is better than Gibson himself. He gives the film precisely what it needs when it exactly needs it.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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