Ukraine
could use a few good action heroes right about now. Unfortunately, these two
American super-spies will probably not qualify. However, the aftermath of their
latest mission gets so complicated, they might end up doing the right thing
anyway in director-co-screenwriter-co-editor Brando Benetton &
cinematographer-co-editor Garrett Nicholson’s longish (43-minute) short, Nightfire,
which releases today on streaming services.
In
the very-near future, the American government has essentially purchased the
embattled nation of Ukraine for two billion dollars, so Putin launches a nuclear
strike, ending the world and the picture, except apparently not in this
alternate universe. Instead, Agents Carter and Ross are dispatched to recover
micro-drives holding sensitive information regarding the transaction. In the
process, they also rescue Prof. Olivetti, an Italian national held hostage by
the terrorists—or so it seems.
After
returning to a hero’s welcome, Carter discovered they were being played by
shadowy conspirators, which makes him a target, (whereas the more cynical Ross
sort of figured as much from the start). Thusly launches an admirably cinematic
chase through the streets of Verona.
Nightfire
started
out as a student film, so its professional sheen, legit distribution, and
casting of the highly recognizable Dylan Baker in a supporting role are
impressive. The action sequences are also nicely produced, but Benetton &
Los Silva’s narrative is really a tangled web of credibility issues and predictable
clichés. Maybe we should be grateful the American operatives are not the villains
here, but that dubious honor is still reserved for an American senator (who
weirdly seems to wield presidential-level power).
It
is always fun to watch Dylan Baker (whom many viewers are currently following
in Hunters), but since he plays Olivetti, we are immediately suspicious
of the character. Lorenzo Pisoni makes a respectable action protag as Carter,
but Greg Hadley constantly up-stages him as the hard-nosed Agent Ross.
Despite
overachieving, Nightfire is not a Cinderella story on the level of El
Mariachi or other micro-budget breakthroughs. It looks great thanks to
Nicholson’s lensing, especially the scenes of Verona by night, the characters
and Macguffin are nothing special. Still, fans of Baker intrigued by the
picturesque setting my want to check out Nightfire when it starts
streaming today (5/1) on Hulu and Amazon.
