A taut, effective action thriller propelled by a powerhouse central turn; not subtle, but consistently gripping. Ideal if you want a compact, high‑tension rescue thriller with serious momentum.
The film is lean and relentless — director Pierre Morel keeps the pace tight, the stakes immediate, and the runtime focused on action and forward momentum. Liam Neeson’s restrained, ominous performance reframes him from character actor to believable action lead; his calm, determined intensity sells both the emotional core (a father’s desperation) and the efficient, brutal problem‑solving the plot requires.
Premise: A retired CIA operative (Bryan Mills) uses his particular set of skills to rescue his kidnapped teenage daughter from an organized trafficking ring in Paris.