#SheReviews The Retaliators

September 12, 2022

For lovers of savage movies, The Retaliators is the horror-thriller film for you. Sadistic and bloodthirsty, I’m thankful I decided to watch it in the daytime, I guess it all comes down to choices and it was still scary with all its twists and turns. 

Even with its high-impact violence, there is an intriguing storyline that addresses choices for ultimate revenge. The script writers’ objective was to convey a deeper meaning because it is based on a real-life event, and it certainly prompts viewers to consider what they would do if placed in a similar nightmare of a situation. 

The genesis and inspiration of the script are based on an unbelievable, very personal and tragic story that happened in 2004.  Screenwriter brothers, Darren and Jeff Geare’s younger sister survived a vicious rape assault while walking home alone at night. Jody Geare, then a teenager, narrowly survived the attack by fighting off her attacker and crawling out of a 20-foot ravine. 

12 years later, through DNA advancements, her rapist was caught. Her attacker was found guilty and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Throughout the ordeal of the trial, The Geare Brothers began writing an idea that explored the concept of an underground revenge-fantasy service for family members of crime victims. 

When The Geare Brothers told Jody that they were writing a script inspired by her story, she told them, “Please, if this script ever turns into a movie, use my name. Get my story out in the world. I want to be an inspiration for other girls.” Jody’s story ultimately is quite an inspirational one. Shortly after her incident, Jody became a firefighter. After following a very successful career with CalFire, today Jody is one of the few female Fire Captains in the United States.

It gave me a much better understanding of how and why this brutal movie The Retaliators manifested. 

The Story 

The Retaliators is a game of revenge played using a new set of rules. There are abominable cold-blooded killings, people disappearing and a brutal world that an upstanding pastor (played by Michael Lombardi) soon uncovers. It is a dark and twisted underworld he is confronted with as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter’s brutal murder pivoting around revenge. 

High-octane original soundtracks and cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music set the tone for this horror-thriller with wall-to-wall music to the end.  

Starring Michael Lombardi (Rescue Me), Marc Menchaca (Ozark), Joseph Gatt (Game of Thrones. Tommy Lee (Musician), Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, The Hu, Ice Nine Kills, Cory Marks, Escape The Fate, All Good Things and more appear on screen. 

My favourite scene was how The Retaliators ended.

 Cast and Crew

Director: Bridget Smith, Samuel Gonzales Jr. Producer: Allen Kovac, Michael Lombardi, Mike Walsh, Writers: Darren Geare, Jeff Allen Geare

Main Cast

Bishop MICHAEL LOMBARDI, Jed MARC MENCHACA, Ram JOSEPH GATT, Quinn Brady JACOBY SHADDIX, Sarah KATIE KELLY, Rebecca ABBEY HAFER, Vic IVAN MOODY, Fang ZOLTAN BATHORY, Decker CHRIS KAEL, Tuck ANDY JAMES, Cruz JASON HOOK, Erica AMANDA LYBERG, Sofie RACHEL  HILBERT, Otto ROBERT KNEPPER, Captain Briggs ROBERT JOHN BURKE, April CORRIE GRAHAM, Aunt Jody CREE KELLY, Arlo KRIS KLING

Music soundtrack: available on movie release in September via Better Noise Music

In Cinemas Nationally on 14 & 16 September 2022 and Streaming from 21 October 2022

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