Thursday, March 30, 2017

'Hardcore Henry' is action thrill ride told in 'first person' camera

According to “Box Office Mojo” that tracks box office receipts. “Hardcore Henry” nabbed $9 million in U.S., theaters. It also grabbed $5 million in Foreign markets around the world. The production budget approached $2 million.

“Henry” is told in the first person with the camera as character. Other characters speak directly into that camera to Henry. He wakes up and is part machine and part man. His wife is kidnapped and he goes on a killing spree to get her back. He is told by her that they love each other and that's all we know about Henry. The action never let's up and there are guns-knives-grenades-pipes-ropes-fire and blood. If you watch closely at the end. You might get a glimpse of Henry's face.

I thought it was a fantastic thrill ride. It's like a video game with you the “player” as Henry. I would've liked to have seen more character development, but that isn't the point. (I have to see it again because there is too much going on in every action sequence).

This isn't the first time the camera is used as the first person character. Black and White movies used this technique with full-on character development. “Lady in the Lake” (1947) with Robert Montgomery and “Dark Passage” (1947) with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Both films were box office hits because of the movie stars. “Lake” used mirrors to show us the main character. “Passage” used plastic surgery to hide main character until halfway in. Check them out if you can. 

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