In all earnestness, it helps for directors and producers to avoid being too gimmicky with certain methods of filmmaking. To say the least though, the single-take method has notably stood the test of time thanks to some of the most nimble direction done over the last century, and now Green Street: Underground helmer James Nunn looks to add his name to the list with none other than his newest Scott Adkins reteamer, One Shot.
Written by Jamie Russell and based on a story by Nunn, One Shot centers on an elite squad of Navy SEALs led by Lt. Jake Harris, assigned to accompany a Zoe Anderson (Ashley Greene Khoury), a junior CIA analyst who intends to retrieve and escort Amin Mansur (Waleed Elgadi) detainee from a CIA black site island prison in an effort to prevent a terrorist attack on a major U.S. city. The bureaucratic brouhaha she receives from disgruntled site manager Jack Yorke (Ryan Phillippe) soon becomes the least of their worries when armed mercenaries raid the facility, forcing Jack and his men to restrategize and survive long enough to protect Mansur from harm, all while investigating the terrorists’ true intentions.
The attack is deadly and Jake and his men are outmatched and outgunned as it is. Making matters worse are the flaring tensions between Anderson and Yorke, with Mansur panicked and eager to run and hide at his own will, with nearly all unknowing of the real consequences if the mission to extract Mansur stateside fails, and there’s a glaring twist to this that will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat by the finale.
The film utilized as little in-between cuts as possible, according to Adkins in a social media post back in April, and it’s done convincingly enough that you’re immersed into the action and drama as it all unfolds. More to the point, it’s Elgadi who captures the heart and soul of the story as the film also deals quite a bit in the all too familiar subject matter of torture and its imminent infringement human rights, and how that could very well impact Jake’s mission in the end. The brief opening narration is something to hold onto going forward.
Arguably, One Shot will certainly deliver as one of Adkins’ best among fans, beginning as early as November 5 when Screen Media launches in theaters and on-demand, and so you can expect a more in-depth review from FCSyndicate as the release date approaches. The film also stars Terence Maynard, Emmanuel Imani, Dino Kelly, Jack Parr, Jess Liaudin and Lee A. Charles.
First Showing first premiered the trailer on Tuesday which you can view above. Peep the gallery below as well.
