Introduction to The Stronghold Netflix Movie Review

On the introductory screen in large letters is a disclaimer about The Stronghold Netflix movie.  The disclaimer states that this movie, The Stronghold is fictional.In other words, the storyline is made up and has no semblance of truth about it.

Of course, it’s possible for the events in the Netflix movie, The Stronghold to take place, I think it is highly unlikely for the events to unfold in the movie as it did. For example, how did an informant find out so much about a certain group without being a part or having connections within. But on the other hand, maybe the informant did and this was not shown to the audience.

The above being said,did  I enjoy watching The Stronghold Netflix movie?  Do I think you would like watching this movie? Check out my movie review of The Stronghold Netflix movie to find out.

Synopsis of The Stronghold Netflix Movie

The Stronghold is a 2020 foreign French action movie about a group of corrupt police officers, some undercover and where their misdeeds  led them. The Stronghold Netflix movie has three main characters, each playing the part of undercover police officers.They are Gilles Lellouche as Greg Cervas, Francois Civil as Antoine and Karim Leklou as Yass. Throughout my movie review of The Stronghold Netflix movie, I will be referring to these three characters as “the trio.”

The trio of characters were in the job habit of hunting down criminal elements in what looked to be crime infested neighborhoods. Most of the crimes involved stolen mopeds, possible pickpockets and the crime that got the best of them, so to speak, was drugs and drug dealers.

In fact, the highlight of the movie was their dealings with drug informants as well as making regular trips to certain neighborhoods in France searching for these type crimes.

Action in The Stronghold Netflix Movie

There is plenty of ation in The Stronghold, mostly dealing with vehicle, foot chases and fights.. However, in contrast, the action in The Stronghold Netflix movie is in no way a match for the quality action scenes in a movie I recently reviewed entitled, The Gray Man

However, I think the movie has enough action to keep your attention, if you are an action movie fan.

Realism in The Stronghold Netflix Movie

There are quite a few movie magic scenarios in The Stronghold Netflix movie. Most has to do with the vast sea of knowledge a young girl had about what was going on in the drug dealing areas. 

 Unless she was a mole in those places where she could find out  what was going on and what is about to happen, there is a question of how she knew so much right down to the schedules of actions that were going to take place.

Other fictionalized events in the movie involved the many altercations the trio had in these type neighborhoods. They appear to take a lot of chances being around these criminal elements who would probably have more to fight back against them instead of their hands and fists – which happened a lot in the movie, The Stronghold.

Assessment of The Stronghold Netflix Movie

The Stronghold Netflix movie has a l running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, so it is  not overly long. The events in the film that dragged The Stronghold Netflix movie down was the number of crimes the trio were involved with initially – which were not interesting to me.

In fact, my interest level began to heighten some towards the end of the movie, when a revelation was made regarding the trio’s leader which also served as a twist in The StrongHold Netflix. 

 What happened to the trio as a result of this twist was one of the highlights of the movie; however,  in my opinion, this happened a little too late in the movie. Additionally, the movie seemed rushed in the end after the audience figured out what was really going on.

What kept this movie just a little above the bar were some of the action scenes as well as the twist in the movie story scenario. You will know what I’m talking about if you watch the Netflix movie, The Stronghold.

Rating of The Stronghold Netflix Movie

Based on a rating of 1 star to five 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate The Stronghold Netflix movie 3 stars. 

Introduction to Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video Movie Review

After searching  for movies to watch on Netflix, I decided to check out the movies that Amazon Prime video had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find a movie  that seemed to be one that was worth watching. The name of the Amazon Prime Video movie is Horizon Line.

As you can see, the title is rather nebulous; however, once you start watching the movie, you may get a general idea of what the film is about.

Did I enjoy watching the 2020 Swedish movie, Horizon Line? Do I think you will like this movie? Check out my movie review of Horizon Line Amazon Prime VIdeo movie  to find out.

By the way, I watched the Horizon Line movie on Amazon Prime VIdeo, but it may be streaming on other services as well.

Synopsis of Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video Movie

When I began watching the Horizon LIne movie, initially, I got Lifetime movies vibes from it. I could tell right away that this would involve a relationship between a couple and the question is whether or not they will stay together or depart, depending on what is going on in the movie’s storyline.

However, there is a huge twist to the Lifetime type movie, Horizon Line. The movie is a lot about relationships and actually has some adventure involved.

The story stars Allison Williams as Sara Johnson meeting Alexander Dreymon as Jackson Davisen during a business trip vacation. Abruptly she left his company without nary a word when he exited their table for a short while. 

Fast forward a short time ahead, Allison Williams’ character is getting ready to attend a friend’s wedding, and plans to bring some refreshments along with her.  While on an island resort, she runs once again into Alexander Dreymon’s character, and similar actions take place as done previously, when she abruptly leaves him again.

It just so happens that they both booked a private air flight with the same pilot on the same day to attend the wedding.  Of course it was awkward at first between  the two of them once they boarded the small plane;  however, Alexander Dreymon’s character  settled back in his plane seat.

Meanwhile, Allison Williams' character is friends with the pilot who had recently lost his wife.  The pilot asks her to sit in the co-pilot seat and maybe as a form of entertainment begins telling her how to operate controls on the small plane.

 However, disaster strikes when the pilot has a fatal heart attack while flying the single engine plane and it is up to both Allison Williams and Alexander Dreymon’s characters to manage to fly the plane.  

Did they survive their plane flight? If so, how did they do it? You will have to watch the Horizon Line Amazon Prime video movie to find out.

Setting of Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video Movie

In my opinion, I did not get a realistic feel of witnessing someone actually being on the plane when I watched the Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video movie. During most of the airplane scenes, I could tell they were actually probably in a studio with airplane props, etc.

That being said, there was an instance when Allison Williams’ character was trying to fuel the plane by laying on top of the wing, when I gasped, when I thought she had fallen off the plane. However, movie magic occurred when she was pushed off the plane from the velocity of the wind, but somehow she landed back inside of the plane, safe and sound  instead of falling.

Acting Skills displayed in the Horizon line Amazon Prime Video Movie

Since the airplane scenes were sort of staged, I could tell the actors were not actually terrified or scared that the plane would crash. During these scenes, the director should have stressed to the actors  to overreact to show they were really scared so their fright would translate to the audience.  

Dialogue in the Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video Movie

I think Allison Williams’ character did not give Alexander Dreymon’s character a plausible explanation as to why she left him  either when he was asleep or he was not around. 

Her just not wanting to say “goodbye” was not an adequate answer. Maybe during the scene when she left for a second time, a scenario should have been shown to the audience to indicate maybe something traumatic happened to her in her past that caused her to react this way.  

Also, there was no reason for Alexander Dreymon’s character to take the blame when leaving him  abruptly  was all her doing – not his.

The above being saie, the biggest dialogue misstep was when Alison Williams Character had to launch the deceased pilot from the plane to decrease the weight, and she only said “Goodbye Freddie.”  In respect, she could have said some consoling words before this action was done.

Assessment of Horizon Line Amazon Prime VIdeo Movie

I did not get the same vibe I usually get when I watch the mayday airplane type scenes in the Horizon Line Amazon Video movie. For example, if I was watching a Tom Cruise movie, I get caught up in the action since the scenes are so realistically done.. This did not happen for me when I watched the Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video movie.

Spoiler Alert: On the plus side, the water scenes seemed  realistic and I think the staff did a good job depicting them both trying to survive after the plane crashed in the water.

Rating of Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video Movie

Based on a rating of 1 star to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate Horizon Line Amazon Prime Video movie 2 stars.