It’s a major vote of confidence when a festival, such as Sundance, happens to be filled almost exclusively by world premieres and then allows for a film to crack the line-up five months after premiering elsewhere. Thus was the case for Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption. It kicked-butt at TIFF, before finding a slot in Park City and despite the very recent Sony pick-up, this action-thriller also looks primed for a January showing. Production talk took place not much time after the film’s international release and it commenced in January of this year. If the first installment was over the top, I can only imagine this getting incrementally better with each chop, kick, stab and punch.
Gist: A sequel that literally picks up where the first installment ends, this follows Rama (Iko Uwais) as he goes undercover and infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and uncover the corruption in his own police force.
Production Co./Producers: Merantau Films’ Ario Sagantoro, XYZ Films’ Aram Tertzakian and Nate Bolotin (The Rambler).
Prediction: Only one possible choice: Park City at Midnight
U.S. Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 Films
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