Bullet Points: Nemesis (2021)

Shogun Films pulls no punches with their debut film, Nemesis. What an exciting time to be a fan of well-made independent cinema. I was fortunate to get a early look before Nemesis makes its debut in the UK on DVD & Digital on March 29th. Let’s see if Nemesis is the right movie for you.

• This is Personal: Nemesis is a British gangster / home invasion thriller. This is an unusual mishmash of movie genres. I have not seen many gangster / home invasion movies. Credit must be given to Jonathan Sothcott. He is a gentleman of many talents including writer, producer and a genuine good bloke. Along with Adam Stephen Kelly, they have developed a screenplay that feels very personal to me. I believe Nemesis is a passion project made with a lot of heart, soul and effort.
• The Family Morgan: Nemesis is all about the Morgan Family. John Morgan (Billy Murray) is a hardened gangster with a lot of experience. He has a beautiful and devoted wife, Sadie Morgan (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) and a loving daughter, Kate Morgan (Ambra Moore). Is retirement in John’s future? It could be. Big Boss, Damien Osborne (Bruce Payne) thinks so. John’s brother, Richard Morgan (Frank Harper) seems to feel that way too. Is this the end of the road for John? While John ponders his future, a family dinner party turns into something a lot more sinister. Nemesis also stars Nick Moran, Lucy Aarden, Ricky Glover, Julian Glover and Danny Bear. It is directed by James Crow. Bulldog Film is the distributor of Shogun Film’s debut feature.

• Gangster Talk: The beginning of Nemesis is wordy. There is a lot going on and a lot of the conversations are essential to the story. We learn a lot about John and his family. Kate is nervous about introducing her girlfriend, Zoe (Lucy Aarden) to her parents. Sadie is busy doing things you would expect a gangster wife to do. All of this is going on, and they still have time to plan a dinner party. Also worth mentioning is the incredibly sounding musical score. Chris Hurst and Robert Geoffrey Hughes’ robust score adds a whole new flavor of production value to Nemesis. If you like what you hear, you can purchase the score released by Shogun Films Records in collaboration with Planets In Alignment also on March 29th.
• Frank the Tank: You might wonder what exactly is up with the subplot involving policeman, Frank Conway. Nick Moran’s performance as Frank is the acting MVP of the film. It did take me some time to figure out why Frank is in so many scenes, but by the time it is all said and done, Frank’s presence will make perfect sense. Perhaps his most memorable acting scene involves his chat with a local bartender about his deceased father. The passion in that scene is unmatched. Pay attention as you watch Nemesis. It is not a movie you want to lose focus in.

• The Lovely Ladies: I knew I recognized Lucy Aarden. I remembered her from Death Race 4: Beyond Anarchy. She is great in Nemesis. You know who else holds their own like a boss? That would be Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott. She is on fire. She gives it her all and then some. Yes, she is married to Jonathan Sothcott. However, I believe she is the perfect actress for the Sadie Morgan role. Also, Ambra Moore’s Kate Morgan might just have the most under appreciated role in the film. All of these women are action badasses in my book.
• The Dark Turn: This is where I am going to be mostly mute. I want you to experience the dinner party almost blind. The less you know, the more of a shocker it will be. This is where you will see the most action and dramatic drama. All of your questions will be answered, and you should feel very satisfied after the final reveal. Remember this while watching Nemesis: Family over everything!

• Parting Words: Nemesis’ combination of genres had me on the edge of my seat. Nemesis is a bit different than your typical gangster flick. It is not guns blazing 24/7, but it is entertaining throughout its entire runtime. Nemesis is a unique viewing experience. I encourage you all to give it a chance while supporting independent filmmaking.
• Grade: B+