Club Benefits
Being in Prime Video’s top 10 doesn’t automatically make a movie worth watching. With a star like Liam Neeson fronting the story and an explosive poster to match, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. “Blacklight” landed on the streaming service at the start of the year and has only now appeared in the charts. But this action-thriller never manages to be interesting or entertaining, a fact already evident from its lackluster theatrical run back in 2022.
Welcome to Watch This, Not That, a column where we dig into the latest streaming top 10 picks, call out the one lackluster title you should skip, and highlight the better alternative you absolutely should watch instead.
“Blacklight” stars Liam Neeson as Travis Block, a shadowy government fixer who uncovers a secret FBI program targeting innocent citizens. Teaming with a journalist, he must expose the deadly conspiracy while protecting his family from those who want the truth buried. The movie was widely derided, earning a dismal 12% on the Rotten Tomatoes, with the site’s critics consensus even reading “turn it off.”
But let me spare you the headache. I dig through the top charts, flag the disappointments, and steer you toward the picks that are actually worth your time. Right now, a sharper, more entertaining action-thriller is streaming on Netflix: “Cold Pursuit.”
Article continues below‘Cold Pursuit’ is an unexpected twist on a classic revenge story
A smarter pick to stream instead is “Cold Pursuit.” This 2019 action-thriller follows Liam Neeson in another round of revenge, this time in snowy Colorado, and it’s every bit as entertaining as that premise sounds. Neeson’s status as an action star is firmly established. Ever since 2008’s “Taken,” he’s appeared in more thrillers than can easily be counted. Yet when he’s paired with a tight, well-executed project, the outcome is usually highly compelling.
“Cold Pursuit” is actually a remake of the Norwegian film “In Order of Disappearance,” and in a rare move, original director Hans Petter Moland returned to helm the English-language version. That continuity gives the movie a level of authenticity missing from many Hollywood remakes.
The story doesn’t exactly stretch Neeson since he’s played vengeful parents before, and the good-guy-turned-avenger trope fits neatly within his wheelhouse. But Neeson’s commanding on-screen presence makes it satisfying to watch him systematically take down very bad men.
“Cold Pursuit” follows Nels Coxman (Neeson), a quiet snowplow driver in a Colorado ski town who loses his son under suspicious circumstances and sets out to find those responsible. Believing a ruthless drug lord and his crew are to blame, he methodically hunts them down one by one. As his vendetta grows, so does the violence, plunging him deeper into a treacherous criminal world.
While “Blacklight” might be climbing Prime Video’s top 10, its poorly written plot and lack of meaningful thrills make it a frustrating watch for action-thriller fans. Not to mention it’s one of Neeson’s weakest outings. “Cold Pursuit” on Netflix, however, delivers a tight, darkly comic revenge story with brutal action and a clever twist on the classic underworld showdown. If you want a smarter, more entertaining thriller featuring the seasoned actor, this is the one to stream instead on Netflix.
Stream "Cold Pursuit" on Netflix now
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
