Bullet Points: Adverse

Did you have Thomas Nicholas as an action stud on your 2021 bingo card? I’m betting you did not. I was lucky enough to virtually attend an advanced screening of Adverse. It is being released by Arcangelo Entertainment in theaters on February 12th. Adverse will also be available on Digital, On Demand and DVD on March 9th through Lionsgate. 

• The Plot: Adverse is a straightforward revenge story. Ethan (Thomas Nicholas) is a rideshare driver who encounters a gangster named Kaden played by Mickey Rourke. Ethan is taking care of his teenaged sister, Mia. They don’t see eye to eye. It turns out Mia owes money to a certain gangster. Can you guess who that gangster is? Soon, tragedy strikes, and Ethan goes on an out for justice rage of revenge. Adverse is written and directed by Brian A. Metcalf. It also stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Sean Astin, Penelope Ann Miller and Andrew Keegan. It is Rated R for brutal revenge violence and brief stripper nudity. 
• Thomas Nicholas: I’m guessing Thomas dropped the Ian because he’s being a badass in Adverse. The poster makes Adverse look like a Collateral clone. But, it is Thomas going all Death Wish on all the drug dealers in his town. I never expected to see him as an action star. I never expected him to go so hard. You simply don’t fuck with Thomas Nicholas’ Ethan. Director Brian A. Metcalf and Thomas Nicholas have worked together in the past on the 2016 flick, The Lost Tree. I’m guessing Metcalf had the confidence to cast Nicholas as a badass sumbitch. 

• Mickey Rourke: I am guessing we will get multiple comments on Mickey’s face. I am not going there. Mickey is convincing as the heel. His character is more complex as you might think. He is a bad guy, but his henchmen are more sinister. Especially, Andrew Keegan’s Jan. This is the type of role you would expect Mickey Rourke to play. 
• The Action: Adverse isn’t nonstop action. It is a bit wordy at times. (Ethan’s therapy / anger management sessions with Lou Diamond Phillips is a prime example of the wordiness) You might describe it as a slowburn that heats up once the revenge starts to go down. The action looks good. Thomas or his stuntman get the job done. However, I wasn’t a fan of all the CG blood. It is a distraction to the action. Thomas beats the living fuck out of multiple baddies. He might be the most ruthless bastard I’ve seen on film all year. 

• Final Words: I have a feeling Adverse will be embraced by the action community. Who doesn’t want to see Thomas Nicholas kick ass and take names? Adverse is an easy recommendation for all my slowburn action revenge fans out there. Watch with confidence. 3.5 stars!