3ish Shortish Paragraphs: Jolt

 2021, Tanya Wexler (Buffaloed) -- Amazon

At the beginning of Kate Beckinsale's career, or even later on when she was Americanized via Serendipity, I would never have thought she would evolve to become a Woman with Guns. But once she became Selene the Vampire, that path was chosen. So, not at all surprised to see her here in another of this sub-genre, some would say exploitative, flicks that focus on a woman taking her vengeance out on men who underestimate her, with guns.

Lindy was born wrong, with a deep seated rage that she cannot control -- intermittent explosive disorder. Her parents couldn't handle her, the authorities couldn't handle her, not even the supposed mental health care professionals could help her. In and out of institutions she somehow ends up in the care of Stanley Tucci (I am amused, in writing about some movies, that certain character names are irrelevant, as it is only the actor that plays them that matters) who provides her with a suit of electrodes and a push-button trigger. When she feels an urge coming, she jabs the button with her thumb and ZAP, a jolt of electricity resets her / calms her down. 

We are introduced to adult Lindy and her predicament as she goes on a blind date. Of course, the stress of dating under such conditions would not be easy, despite being as beautiful as Beckinsale, and she wants to bolt. But Jai Courtney is encouraging, friendly and open to understanding her. Despite a setback with the snooty waitress, they do their date and move on to the dessert without any (well, much) violence, back at her barely furnished loft apartment, where Courtney gently removes the jolt-suit. The next day Courtney is found dead in an alley, and thus begins the vengeance act of the sub-genre. With barely any knowledge of who he was, and some detectives dogging her heels, Lindy is going to find his killers and let the full force of her disorder come down on them.

The first thing I noticed about this movie was its setting. This is obviously shot in the UK but for some reason, they Americanize it, setting the movie in this generic, pink neon lit city of shadowy alleys and rustic bricked locations. The even more annoying thing was that Lindy began her monologue in a flat American accent, but as she speaks more and more, the accent slips and she reverts back to native UK, albeit the cleaned up tones of someone living in the US for a long time. That's just sloppy. 

The movie is not bad, for its sub-genre. It dispenses with the darker tones many of these flicks reach for, instead giving us a light almost comedic romp through bone crunching, throat cutting and gun shots, as Lindy explodes her way through any obstacles to her vengeance. There are some twists, and betrayals, but mostly its just stylish violence and scenes shot like she was doing a cover shoot for a European fashion magazine. And yet, I actually enjoyed it more than the last Women with Guns flick, Gunpowder Milkshake.