Posted at 10:30 a.m.
This action-packed thriller echoes, probably unwittingly, current events. First is the threat of a nuclear missile attack from Russia, something we haven’t heard of since the end of the Cold War. One of the aspects of the story also evokes the sexual and psychological harassment to which women are often victims in the military world. Finally, interceptor frontally addresses the deep ideological division that has separated Americans for several years, from which extremist factions emerge who prefer to sacrifice a country which, in their eyes, has lost its soul.
Even if it accumulates implausibilities, this first feature film by Matthew Reilly, who co-wrote the screenplay for his feature film with veteran Stuart Beattie (Collateral, Obi-Wan Kenobi), is perfectly in line with the spirit of genre films produced by Netflix. Starring Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, interceptor offers a story where the heroine holds the fate of the world in her hands, facing unexpected adversaries.
There lies the main interest of this scenario. The greatest threat indeed comes from within, led by a former American military intelligence officer (Luke Bracey) who, completely disillusioned, has found a way to take control of nuclear missiles in Russia, which are now pointed to the 16 largest US cities. Countdowns, explosions, fierce one-on-one battles, all the elements required in an action movie are used for the benefit of a story mainly set in a secret American military base, located in the middle of the ocean, where are installed missile interceptors.
It’s big, it farts everywhere, and we can imagine the outcome. Fans of action scenes will however find their account, especially as some sequences, well executed, are really spellbinding.
interceptor (Interception in French version) is offered exclusively on Netflix.
Thriller
interceptor (VF: Interception)
Matthew Reilly
With Elsa Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane
1:36