The Outsider Review: 3 Ups & 7 Downs

2. The Gruesome, Well-Executed Violence

The film does get a few points for its unflinching bursts of graphic violence. Blood and gore are fairly infrequent throughout the movie, but when Nick or one of his comrades is forced to spring into action, it's usually in brutally over-the-top fashion. Several throats are slit in the movie, a lot of people are shot in the head, and it's all delivered with suitably wince-inducing impact.

These moments do certainly perk the movie up from its generally boring tenor, though sadly they're not quite enough to actually make it worthwhile.

The special effects department did a fantastic job with the various squibs and arterial sprays, but because these moments are so brief and the film isn't shaped around them - like they would in a schlockier, more honest movie - they're ultimately just a small mercy.