Another week brings us yet another Frank Grillo film. While I’m joking, it truly isn’t an exaggeration to say that Grillo is among the most prolific actors in Hollywood today. In 2023 alone, he starred in at least seven films. Although 2024 might be a quieter year for him, he typically has several projects ready for release.
The most recent of these is Hounds of War, a military themed actioner that finds Grillo collaborating with ace action filmmaker Issac Florentine. Any fans of action cinema should be excited by this team up with Florentine being behind some of the best DTV action films to grace the video shelves (now streaming platforms. Showing my age here).
Action classics like Undisputed 2 (2005) and Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013) showcase Florentine’s exceptional talent when he’s at his best. With such quality work fresh in my mind, I went into Hounds of War with high expectations. Would it deliver the same level of enjoyment as Florentine’s Undisputed films, or was I setting the bar too high?
The short answer? I was likely expecting too much. However, Hounds of War does have some noteworthy elements that make it stand out. For starters, this film is the most visually stunning project Florentine has ever created. The breathtaking locations in Malta contribute significantly to this, but it’s the exceptional cinematography by Ericson Core that truly distinguishes Hounds of War from other Florentine films, at least visually.
Action enthusiasts may already recognize Core’s work; he was the cinematographer for The Fast and the Furious (2001) and Daredevil (2003). He also controversially directed the Point Break (2015) remake. While that film fell short compared to the original, it undeniably had an impressive visual aesthetic. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised to see Core’s name in the credits, and his work here elevates Hounds of War beyond typical DTV fare.
Florentine and Core collaborate well to make sure that the action is captured crisply and cleanly. One of Florentine’s attributes is his handling of action scenes, and it serves him well here. While the level of action doesn’t quite reach the heights of his best work, the variety of fight scenes, shootouts, and car chases are all well-executed. At no point does the film leave the audience confused about what’s happening on screen.
The film’s main drawbacks are its thin characters and simplistic A to B plot. Although Grillo delivers a solid performance in the lead role, he can only do so much with such a poorly developed character. At least he receives more substance than his co-stars. The introduction of the rest of his team is so brief that their later fates fail to evoke the emotional response required.
Additionally, the film opens late in its narrative and then flashes back to an earlier time. While this technique successfully creates an exciting opening, it ultimately diminishes the tension, as the audience knows Grillo will survive to reach that later point in the story.
Martial arts fans might also find themselves disappointed by the limited roles of skilled fighters like Joey Ansah, Seydina Balde, and Mark Strange. Although Ansah and Balde showcase some impressive moves before their screen time is cut short, Strange is not afforded the same courtesy. Thankfully, Strange has his own lead role in Kung Fu Games (2024), where he gets to fully display his martial arts talent. That film comes highly recommended and hopefully paves the way for Strange to take on larger roles in the future.
In the latter half of the film, other martial arts actors, including the always welcome Mike Moller and the likeable Lee Charles, make appearances. While neither character is deeply developed, they still participate in some engaging action, with Charles playing a key role in the film’s car chase based finale. I was particularly pleased to see Moller in a more substantial role, as he has been getting relegated to brief appearances in his recent films. While I would love to see him take on even more, he at least gets to showcase his impressive skills multiple times.
As mentioned, the finale is primarily vehicle based, featuring our “heroes” attempting a kidnapping in a stolen ambulance. The narrow streets of Malta provide a unique backdrop for the car chase. The driving sequences are interspersed with fight scenes inside the ambulance, where Rhona Mitra battles a secret service agent while Lee Charles drives and fends off another attacker. This action scene is well shot, with Mitra proving quite adept at pulling off the close-quarters choreography.
What’s surprising about the finale is Grillo’s limited presence. While he has ample action scenes throughout the film, it was unexpected for the climax to be largely carried by his co-stars. As always, Grillo is in fantastic shape—not just for his age but for anyone. He immerses himself in the action, albeit with some assistance from his stunt double. Nevertheless, he convincingly handles both gunfights and hand-to-hand combat. I just expected that considering he was the star that the finale wouldn’t be left to his two co-stars. This is a minor quibble as the action still manages to excite even if it wasn’t what I was expecting.
The quality action more than makes up for some of the film’s pacing issues. There is something of a lull during the non action scenes, which is partly to do with the film being robbed of any suspense due to how the filmmakers have decided to tell their story. I will give the film some plus points for not shying away from being shocking. One particular scene has the always reliable Robert Patrick carrying out an act of violence that was shocking in its cold bloodiness. It’s not that the scene is excessively violent, it’s more to do with how nonchalant it is carried out.
Speaking of Patrick, he seems to be the only other American actor alongside Grillo in the cast. Patrick could easily handle this role in his sleep, yet he still brings intensity to his performance. While his screen time is limited—mostly barking orders to subordinates—he imbues his character with an aura of menace. He receives solid support from James Elder and the dependable Matthew Marsh, who plays a somewhat shady President of the United States.
Hounds of War isn’t the complete success I initially hoped for, but it was still a worthwhile experience. Fans of Florentine will appreciate his action direction, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of his best works. However, his upcoming film Hellfire could be the one to do it, as it reunites him with his Bridge of Dragons (1999) leading man, Dolph Lundgren as well as featuring performances from legends Stephen Lang and Harvey Keitel. Additionally, the underutilized Johnny Yong Bosch also stars. Here’s hoping he gets a chance to display his martial arts abilities.
With Grillo, we won’t have to wait long to see him back on screen. Not only is he currently appearing in the second season of Tulsa King (2022), but he also stars in Long Gone Heroes (2024), which was released on the same day as Hounds of War. That’s a lot of Grillo! Long Gone Heroes reunites him once again with writer/director John Swab, marking their fifth collaboration. I’m curious to see how this film compares to their previous works.
Plot: 2/5
Acting: 3.5/5
Action: 3.5/5
Overall: 3/5
