Netflix Violent Revenge Thriller Remake Gives Denzel Washington An All-Time Hero
When a seemingly quiet and nice guy named Robert McCall finds himself between violent Russian mobsters and a teenage girl he befriended at a local restaurant, violence is sure to follow in The Equalizer. The Antoine Fuqua-directed film stars Denzel Washington as Robert McCall and Chloe Grace Moretz as the endangered teenager named Teri, whom the Russian mob demands work for them or face violent consequences.
A Quiet And Determined Hero
Fans of revenge stories will enjoy the quiet cool demonstrated by Washington’s character as he spectacularly turns the tables on those who would harm the girl if she doesn’t do as they say and him for trying to save her. Washington shows his character, McCall, is much more than a quietly mysterious man. Instead, he possesses advanced and finely honed fighting skills that make him The Equalizer, who acts as a human sledgehammer against armed and violently dangerous criminals.
The Baddest Man In The Room
Even when outnumbered by armed mobsters, McCall never sweats or panics. Instead, he surveys the room, chooses his targets, and selects his available weapons before going to work. He sets his watch and then kicks some mobster tail while demonstrating his highly advanced and finely honed fighting skills that show why he truly is The Equalizer for the oppressed. The fight sequences are exhilarating and full of tension, and they keep viewers glued to the screen while bad guys learn the hard way that they aren’t the ones in charge.
McCall doesn’t need to carry weapons or make outlandish threats. He never loses his cool but does show anger when forced to dispatch those who would harm Teri and others. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, giving viewers many opportunities to learn about the violent nature of the baddest man in the room at any given time despite his quiet demeanor.
Imposes His Will On His Environment
The Equalizer is a triumphant film that makes viewers feel sorry for Teri, despise the mobsters, and root for McCall as he impressively dispatches multiple bad guys at once and proves that he is the proverbial sledgehammer who single-handedly destroys criminal organizations. Bad guys don’t impose their will on him because he imposes his will on them.
A Smash Hit
What is McCall’s history? Nobody knows, and that’s a big part of the allure of The Equalizer. The 2014 film debuted on September 26, 2014, and spent a week as the nation’s number-one film. It earned more than $101.5 million at the domestic box office and more than $192.33 million globally.
Critics generally liked The Equalizer, which earned a 61 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, and fans mostly loved it and gave the film a 77 percent audience approval score. Fuqua earned an NAACP Image Award for outstanding directing in a motion picture. The film also earned several nominations, including acting award nominations for Denzel Washington and Moretz. Two film sequels were made in 2018 and 2023.
Streaming On Netflix
The film also spawned the television series of the same name starring Queen Latifah. The television series debuted in 2021 and aired its fourth season in 2024. You can stream The Equalizer on Netflix and rent it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play.
