Wildcat, Co-Starring Lewis Tan

London has practically fallen. It is largely run by two criminal organizations, who are both in danger of being overrun by a psychotic new street gang. Ada has only two friends, her former Special Forces comrades, Roman and Curtis. Together, they only number three, but a little training and discipline make them more than a match for dozens of cheap thugs. Ada also has a brother, but ne’er do well Edward is more of a hindrance than a help in James Nunn’s Wildcat, which is now playing in select theaters and on VOD.

After their service, Ada and Roman gigged as partners in rather grey areas, until they split up. Unbeknownst to him, she went completely straight to care for her daughter, Charlotte. Unfortunately, that was how crime boss Frasier Mahoney got to Ada. He kidnapped Charlotte, holding her hostage until Ada pays off Edward’s 500,000 Pound debt. To make the 24-hour deadline, Ada plots a heist to rob the jewels Mahoney’s rival, Christine Vine, will be temporarily storing at a high security depository.

Basically, the plan is to steal the jewels, fence them for cash, and lay a trail pointing back to Mahoney, all before successfully making the trade for Charlotte. The timing will be tight, especially when the feral street gang starts pursuing Ada and her friends.

Wildcat probably sounds like typical B-movie material, probably because it largely is. However, it is elevated by Nunn’s snappy execution and a first-rate supporting cast. Previously, Nunn helmed the vastly superior Scott Adkins One Shot/One More Shot duology. Although Wildcat is a much more modest film, he finds a worthy action “leading man” in Lewis Tan. Most of the action is dominated by gunplay, but there are several nifty sequences that show off Tan’s martial arts skills.

Alice Krige and Charles Dance also take relish chewing the scenery as Vine and Mahoney. The crafty veteran thesps have a flair for delivering an ominous line. Weirdly, Kate Beckinsale, the “star” and executive producer, makes the least impression as Ada. Ironically, some of her best moments come in straight dramatic scenes, but Tan definitely overshadows her in the act department.

Regardless, Wildcat gets pretty dark, far more so than Nunn’s films in the Marine and One Shot franchises. Sometimes it lands heavier than it should, but the fight scenes are impressive. Easily recommended for VOD genre action fans, Wildcat is now playing at the Bel Air Luxury Cinema in Detroit.