Kate Beckinsale is no stranger to action, what with her iconic turn as Selene in the Underworld movies and others, such as Whiteout and Contraband opposite Mark Wahlberg (whose own movie, Joe Bell, opens this weekend as well). She is also right at home and comfortable period pieces, such as the wickedly hilarious and delightful Jane Austen Love & Friendship. There’s none of that Austen feel with Amazon’s Jolt, where Beckinsale’s Lindy possesses a condition that would make The Hulk blush. Yup, you would not like her when she’s angry.
Thanks to her psychiatrist Dr. Munchin (Stanley Tucci), a “brace” is placed around her torso, and she possesses the ability to shock herself out of these rageful episodes. She still slips and beats the living daylights out of someone who is rude to her or a stranger, waitresses for example, and who possess the kindness of a monster… and any number of souls who happen to say or do the wrong thing in her presence.
Lindy meets a guy, Justin (Jai Courtney, recently seen in The Honest Thief opposite Liam Neeson), and things start to change. Or so it seems that way. Love and the rush of new amore is a powerful drug. It is one that can make someone believe all their life problems have simply disappeared. In fact, that is largely not the case.
Dr. Munchin stresses this fact, but a euphoric Lindy ignores him and saunters out of his office and into a world not prepared for what she can unleash. Thing is, she always is defending the defenseless, helping the in trouble.
One day, this condition could get her into some serious trouble.
When this first true love of her life is murdered, Lindy will stop at nothing to seek revenge—something she is quite adept at doing proficiently.
Jolt is the most fascinating of film experiences. On one hand, much of what occurs seems like storytelling elements we have seen before, yet with Beckinsale wielding her cinematic power one is completely lost in her journey to avenge the one love she ever possessed.
Beckinsale is a force of nature, which should surprise a soul. She can impeccably play demure and blushing with first-time love, and then on a dime, her condition can kick in and a crew of muscle men can get hit with Hurricane Lindy and wish they had collectively stayed in bed that day.
There is a nuance to her condition, as played by the English actress. As Monk used to say, it is a blessing and a curse. Righting wrongs is not always a bad thing but going from calm to extreme and violent rage is not something that fits in coherently into a society. Lindy keenly knows this and witnessing the internal struggle burning inside Beckinsale is a tribute to an actress who can clearly do it all.
Courtney plays his part well. For Lindy, he is like a breath of fresh air—and he elevates the film as such when he’s introduced in the first act. The chemistry that the Australian actor has with his lead is spot-on, which isn’t always the case when pairing two thespians who hardly know each other in real life. It is 100-percent believable that this woman, who has been struggling with a condition that is extremely brutal, could drop her guard and let herself fall for such a gentleman (as played by Courtney). His presence is powerful, especially when his character is murdered and the mystery that drives Jolt switches to its higher gears.
Tucci is tackling this chapter of his career with power and grace. He is not afraid or unwilling to take smaller parts, even as he can still be the performer whose name sits above a movie’s moniker. His choice in the smaller parts he chooses says much and speaks volumes to the quality of the screenplay he received. That is certainly the case with Jolt. He and Beckinsale have a rapport that, in many ways, drives a “personal” aspect of the story.
Director Tanya Wexler (Hysteria) does some extraordinary work marrying the action and the heart of the film. That must be there equally for the audience to tap into what it is extolling. The helmer has an action sequence choreography team that is top-notch. There are car chases, bullets flying across cramped spaces, and hand-to-hand combat that feels as ferocious as two semi-trucks having a head-on collision.
The director’s previous effort, Buffaloed (2019), was a guilty delight and one can see the growth she has made just a year and change later with the jarring electricity of Jolt. The sharpness of that Zoey Deutch (and Courtney!) starring Buffaloed was a perfect readying ground for the tenacity of her latest.
In Jolt, Detectives Vicars (Bobby Cannavale) and Detective Nevin (Laverne Cox) are there at first to help a mourning girlfriend and before long, Lindy is making things so difficult for them, Nevin—at least—starts to think she is involved in the murder. Meanwhile, Cannavale’s cop has a trusting heart and believes Lindy, and continually tries to help her with varying success. Both actors are impeccably cast.
Their relationship alone is worth the price of admission. Here’s a thought: Let’s get a spin-off with Detective Vicars and Nevin! It’s pure bliss witnessing the rise of Cox as she not only is knocking open doors for those who wish to follow in her trailblazing path, she is doing expressing her innate talent with each part.
Susan Sarandon portrays a narrator of sorts, who also appears in the film at one point. Her credit is listed as Woman With No Name. Although she may lack a character moniker, it is sonic succulence to experience her narration, and then when she finally materializes in the story, it is a jolting moment between Beckinsale and the legendary actress.
It would be fantastic if there were more of Sarandon in Jolt. Then again, Beckinsale commands so much attention that everyone else is a pleasant blur.
Amazon’s Jolt is a supernatural joyride that maintains the attention of this viewer from opening moment to closing credits.
Now, Jolt does not break any new ground. Yet it can stand tall amongst the action flicks it shares a milieu alongside. The film keeps things fresh enough that the entertainment factor can be as scorching as the action on the screen.
Grade: B+