TAKE COVER

Category: Action Movies

Take Cover (2024) is a British action thriller directed by stuntman-turned-filmmaker Nick McKinless, starring Scott Adkins as Sam Lorde, a disillusioned government sniper ready to retire after a botched mission leaves an innocent woman dead. The film opens with Sam and his wisecracking spotter, Ken (Jack Parr), debating morality during a high-stakes assassination. When Sam’s shot accidentally kills the target’s girlfriend, he spirals into guilt, prompting him to quit—but not before accepting "one last job" in Frankfurt, arranged by their manipulative handler, Tamara (Alice Eve) .

Upon arrival, Sam and Ken are gifted a luxurious penthouse suite with floor-to-ceiling windows—a glaring vulnerability for a sniper. Their evening takes a deadly turn when Tamara’s "parting gifts"—two masseuses, Mona (Madalina Bellariu Ion) and Lily (Alba de Torrebruna)—arrive just as a rival sniper’s scope glint reveals an ambush. Trapped in the glass-walled deathtrap, Sam realizes Tamara has orchestrated the attack to eliminate him, fearing his conscience makes him a liability . What follows is a claustrophobic battle for survival as Sam dodges sniper fire, hand-to-hand combat with disguised assassins (including a ninja-like hotel manager), and Tamara’s taunting phone calls. The film blends Adkins’ signature fight choreography with tense cat-and-mouse suspense, though critics note the plot leans heavily on action-movie clichés, like the "one last job" trope and improbable survival tactics .

As bodies pile up, Sam forms a reluctant alliance with Mona, who pushes him to confront his moral compromises before sacrificing herself to save him. A gravely wounded Ken also aids Sam’s escape, culminating in a fiery showdown where Sam outsmarts the snipers using their own tactics. The finale sees Sam tracking Tamara to an airport, where—with poetic irony—he eliminates her via a sniper shot orchestrated by Mona’s orphaned daughter, offering a slim chance at redemption .

While praised for Adkins’ physical performance and McKinless’ stunt-driven direction, Take Cover received mixed reviews for its predictable plot and underdeveloped themes. Critics highlighted Alice Eve’s limited screen time as a missed opportunity, though her icy villainy adds tension . The film’s single-location premise and relentless action cater to genre fans, even if it lacks the depth of Adkins’ standout roles in Avengement or Boyka . Released digitally and in select theaters in October 2024, Take Cover delivers a serviceable, if unoriginal, adrenaline rush for action aficionados .

Uploaded on: April 6, 2025, 1:50 pm

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