Daniel Radcliffe has gun hands. Yes I know, it’s pretty cool. But that’s not the only thing cool about Guns Akimbo. Samara Weaving also stars in this action and comedy-laced film released on 28th February 2020. Almost everyone in this movie has guns, big guns. In one scene Nix (played by Weaving) strolls around casually sporting a missile launcher. There are drones and high-tech gear used throughout. There are over-the-top Mad Max-type characters who want nothing more than to smash you up, sometimes with hammers.
But if you need more convincing to seek this title out, its main man Miles (played by Radcliffe) starts his journey as an internet troll stirrer. Yes, that’s right, he likes nothing better than to sit at home with an imaginary giant spoon seeking out internet trolls and stirring them up.
His online troll name is NUT5ACK. His choice of comebacks is nothing short of the kind of diatribe many online forums are used to seeing from those with nothing to contribute and too much time on their hands. The narrative shines a light on the woes of social media early on. It packs a heavy punch to outline just how easy it is for people to take out their aggression online.
Online Group Admins VS Daniel Radcliffe (Miles)
For this reason, that’s exactly how Miles ends up choosing the wrong people to stick it to. One night as he sits in his jocks and tiger slippers swilling beers, he discovers an online game called Skizm. Subsequently, the admins for this online group aren’t the type to just sit back and take the abuse. They unceremoniously decide to visit him.
Despite Guns Akimbo’s lack of originality, the narrative covers all its bases with flashes of backstories and relevant information for some of the key cast. Add to that, the film is a colorful swirling, and erratic cinematic wonderland for those who are impressed with that type of thing. And I am.
Similarly akin to a modern mash-up of familiar gaming console games, there are plenty of references to player statistics and winning strategies. The setting of a city backdrop amongst graffiti-filled chaos just adds to the overall grungy feel of the entire movie. The action rarely stops to breathe. Gorehounds will be disappointed in the filmmaker’s choice to keep most of the violence off-screen. Given the multitude of opportunities to hone in on some gruesome acts, it instead opts to flick away. This leaves you to imagine the drill attaching massive bullet-counting guns directly into Mile’s soft nerdy hands. But there are a few cool kills that will gratify those wanting that type of thing.
Guns Akimbo Trailer
For another movie that features gaming, watch Latency 2024, next.
Death Match Games
If you’ve seen movies like Rollerball, Death Race, and Running Man, you’ll be familiar with this type of story. Instead of government agendas of culling the lower class, in Guns Akimbo we have an underground gang trying to eke out a foothold in the entrepreneurial niche of online influencing. The leader of the bad guys Riktor (Ned Dennehy) even comes up with some choice slogans for his global franchise idea. He chooses descriptors like Skizm being the McDonalds of Massacre, The Burgerking of Badness, and the Starbucks of Murder.
In the final act, the score switches up from its techno-laden style. Amping up the music to feature heavily as an accompanying mood lifter instead of a subtle background melody. It comes at you with songs from the likes of Cypress Hill, Iggy Pop, and the ’80 Action theme song for Kickboxer, which heightens the cheesiness of closing scenes but somehow makes it work.
All in all, Guns Akimbo is a great way to start 2020 and was well worth seeing in the cinema.
I give Guns Akimbo
4 hammer times out of 5
Guns Akimbo Streaming Online
Guns Akimbo is streaming in loads of places for free. In Australia, the title can be watched on the Netflix platform. In the USA Guns Akimbo is on FreeVee and Pluto TV as well as Roku. For where to stream in our region look to your favorite “where to watch” site and go from there. Mother of Movies recommends JustWatch.com for all your streaming options.
- Rating | R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language, drug use, sexual references, and brief graphic nudity (in the form of Daniel Radcliffe’s peen haha.)
And if you were wondering what Samara Weaving’s neck tattoo says it’s;
“If you can see this, you’re standing too close.”
Quote from Guns Akimbo movie – Samara Weaving’s neck tattoo
- Written & Directed by | Jason Lei Howden
- The Gun Akimbo cast features Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Ned Dennehy, and, Rhys Darby.
- Produced by | Joe Neurauter, Felipe Marino, Tom Hern.
- Distribution from Saban Films
- Runtime | 95 Minutes
