Guns Akimbo

There's definite cheap fun to be had here, just try not to go in with expectations too high. This was potential wasted, but at least we always have 'Deathgasm' to fall back on.

• Jess Fenton

Read Jess' full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-guns-akimbo-just-like-harry-potter-but-with-guns-and-more-violence-not-really

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As it becomes more and more common nowadays, I have to start this review by stating that no controversy surrounding this film affected my opinion in any way. I’m feeling a bit exhausted about the fact that almost every movie has some sort of external problem entirely unrelated to its story or characters. You can watch whatever you want, no one will make you watch this or that film. As long as you don’t purposefully give a negative review based on something that has nothing to do with the movie itself, I’m fine with people skipping them. That said…

I really enjoyed Guns Akimbo! I mean, how can someone not feel entertained by Daniel Radcliffe dressed in his robe with guns attached to his hands? Or by Samara Weaving taking a step up in craziness compared to Ready or Not? There’s no denying that this film is extremely violent, bloody, and it doesn’t shy away from having a clear social commentary. The latter is not only evident, but it undoubtedly demonstrates something everyone knows it’s true: Internet trolls are the worst!

Actually, I wish Jason Lei Howden would have gone even further. There’s a lot of potential in a movie like this, and while it’s safely above average, it could have been at the top of the most entertaining films of the last few years. Still, I wholeheartedly love this take on a subject that everyone (online film critics especially) unfortunately has to deal with every day. A part of me wished it was real… Every time a “troll alert” was activated, that person would have to leave its comfortable, safe couch, and battle TO THE DEATH other online cowards in real-life… okay, maybe not that extreme, but you get my point.

The action is as crazy as the concept itself. It goes by without saying, but obviously, this is one of those flicks which asks the viewer to simply accept and enjoy the unrealistic, far-fetched, no-way-he-could-have-survived-that a...

I've made no secret about my opinions on Samara Weaving, but I was more than willing to give Guns Akimbo a chance anyway. I wouldn't say I regret that decision, but I was underwhelmed. I'm going to use a term here that I have not used unironically in... God, maybe, genuinely, over a decade, because I don't know how else to describe Guns Akimbo: Guns Akimbo is fuckin' tryhard. It's so desperately edgy, in a way that tries to emulate works I do love, but goes too far too clumsily. I didn't hate it, at all, but I was very aware of what this movie was trying to be, where a better film might have kept me to entertained to notice.

Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole.

Great watch, will likely watch again, and do recommend.

Such a great, yet equally awful premise, it affords some top notch ridiculous abuse humor mixed with some of the most fun and fulfilling action I've seen in quite some time.

Playing a guy that piss off the wrong guy on the internet, Danielle Radcliffe (Harry Potter) embodies the spirit of desperation, and he does so much with it, given that he literally can't answer his phone or open a door, since his hands are now guns.

Samara Weaving ("The Babysitter"), really knocks her role out of the park. Madder than Harley Quinn, she not only does a superb action sequence work, but she makes it look fun as well.

The story is a little complex, but the way it is framed turns it transitions of over the top ridiculous scenarios as things escalate.

If you like great action, good reveals, psychotic characters, and/or insane survival situations, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this.