Consider us mixed on George Tillman Jr.’s “Faster.” We’re as accepting of old-school vigilante action as much as the next guy. But Tillman’s resume doesn’t inspire confidence, as he’s had a forgettable career of very few highlights. Then there’s Dwayne Johnson, a personality we like who has otherwise been forced to star in a series of children’s pictures that made us wonder if the former wrestler was interested in his calling, that being middle-to-lowbrow tough guy actioners.
And yet, the red-band trailer for “Faster” has hit, and it doesn’t skimp on the violence. Johnson plays an ex-con out to avenge the death of his brother during a heist-turned-double cross, along the way drawing the attention of intrepid cop Billy Bob Thornton. We figured the film would be inoffensive, forgettable PG-13 fluff along the lines of “Walking Tall” but then Johnson walked into an operating room and pumped a dying man full of lead, dodging squibs of blood, and we realized this might be something else. With the reputations of kiddie star Johnson and journeyman Tillman, its a surprise to see the studio going hard-R, especially with Johnson as a character who, in the trailer alone, mows down defenseless men relentlessly. But, refreshingly, it looks violent, straightforward, and with textbook practical effects, a welcome sight in a usually CGI-enhanced world.
“Faster” opens on November 10th. Peep the trailer below, but be warned: it’s spoiler-licious.