Rent The Equalizer 3 (2023)

Beautifully realised travelogue/thriller - The Equalizer 3 review by Alphaville

One of the attractions of the Equalizer franchise, besides Denzel’s charismatic lead, is its emphasis on beautiful settings and appealing characters. Here the setting is the picturebook town of Abrani, set in a canyon on Italy’s Amalfi coast (standing in for Sicily in the plot), beautifully filmed by Antoine Fuqua’s fluid camerawork. The mafia-harassed locals in need of Denzel’s skills are equally well-drawn. Even when there’s little going on in the plot, it’s good to spend time with them while we follow Denzel wandering around town getting to know them. You’ll want to visit. It’s almost a travelogue. As for the mafia baddies… they’re suitably nasty and really need to be equalized by our hero. Disappointments? Government sidekick Dakota Fanning has little to work with and the climax is a damp squib. Despite that, the journey there is beautifully realised and a joy to watch. Keep ‘em coming, Antoine.

Highly Entertaining Action Thriller - The Equalizer 3 review by GI

By now you know exactly what you're going to get and this doesn't disappoint. A highly entertaining action thriller and in this case a beautiful southern Italian setting. Denzel Washington reprises his role as the ADHD suffering former CIA black ops man who likes to right wrongs but is a troubled man due to the unbelievable amount of people he's iced over three films. He's reunited here with his Man On Fire (2004) co-star Dakota Fanning, who I have to say is a little underused but this is Washington's show. As McCall he's still out there dishing the violence on the bad guys and he's in Italy where after being wounded is recuperating in a lovely little town, befriended by the locals and ready to finally settle down for some well earned peace and quiet. Unfortunately the local mafia boss is a nasty piece of work and McCall decides to rid the town of him and his henchmen. This is done with some toe curling violence, beautifully choreographed and all great fun and what we expect with an Equalizer film. It's full on action and bloody and entertains from start to finish. If you enjoyed the first two then this will not disappoint.

Brutal, gory violence - The Equalizer 3 review by RC

I think people unaware of what this film offers need to be warned that as per the title of this review, this is a very violent and gory film complete with limb and head amputation and masses of blood everywhere.

That warning aside, these Equalizer films are also extremely unrealistic in a similar vein to other's such as Rambo, with one man seemingly unstoppable against an army of baddies. I think here though 'The Equalizer 3' takes the medal because we now have an older man single handily thwarting a mass of much younger, fitter, mafia types and achieving something that the CIA with all their resources seem unable to do. Stepping back and analysing the film and to me it's too far fetched and laughable if not for the gore. Of course, we don't always want realism.

Now, after that damning review, there is obviously something to these films that's adhering to people. We all want a super hero, whether it's Superman, Rambo, The Equalizer etc., they all fit the bill. I remember watching the 1985 Equalizer TV series with Edward Woodward, and despite it being a little corny, there was still the thrill of watching someone thwarting bad people to help the person in the street for no monetary gain. This series did not have the gory violence of course, but is the same character with the same agender.

I admit, I'm not a lover of gore and seeing pools of blood and heads falling off bodies etc., and if the argument is that it makes the film more believable, then that does not hold up for me considering the whole concept of the story is not in the slightest plausible. I think had the film less gory violence it could have been more suitable for a wider audience and still maintain the fun aspect of good over evil however unbelievable ,and after all, we don't always want to watch realism.

On the plus side, the filming location is a joy to watch, and Denzel Washington's performance as the meticulous avenger questioning what he's done in the past and what needs to be done now adds depth to the character which otherwise could just be seen as a killing automaton.

I gave three stars as despite the gore, I watched it to the end, I always like to see the baddies lose! However, unlikely to give it a second viewing.