The Outsider (2014) User Reviews

It wasn't *that* bad! I've seen much better but also much worse.

[zacpetch · 5/10 · 8 July 2015]

This movie is not very good. That said, it's not awful and it will hold your interest long enough so that you stick with it to the end -- but I can't put my finger on why.

The problems with it are the characters, all one-dimensional stereotypes. We've got the British military giant-of-a-man, the estranged daughter, the detective and the corporate bad guy, as well as a handful of others who don't do anything beyond bulk up the cast list.

Take the Brit for example: His accent is convincing until you realise it can't decide if it's London or Northern, switching back and forth between the two often within the same sentence. His character is our lead and so we get behind him in his search for his daughter that seems to consist entirely of one coincidence after another with several scenes that see him beating up people for no good reason. The actor is not very good and has to be carried by his costars.

I will say this for the movie: James Caan is great in it.

Overall this movie is okay but nothing special. It's just so by the books and lifeless that you shouldn't care but there's something about it that makes you care anyway. This movie is a good way to kill some time on an evening in but that's about it.

Not a Prince

[kosmasp · 5/10 · 11 June 2015]

You know the story/drill here, it'll be hardly surprising how this will develop. Recently there was another movie called "Prince" which had Bruce Willis in it (well sort of), but the real funny thing is that Jason Patric was in that movie too. He had a different role than that he has in this one, but just the fact that he'd be in such similar movies alone is kind of crazy.

The action scenes are decent, though nothing to get too excited about. James Caan is great as always, even if his role is pretty paper thin, he makes the most of it. It's very simple as stated before and acting from other is not really something to look forward to exactly. Without Caan I'd given this max a 4/10

Not a very good movie

[glennhargreaves · 4/10 · 1 May 2014]

For a film with Jason Patric and James Caan, this movie is very disappointing. The movie started well actually, but as soon as Lex Walker (played by Craig Fairbrass)showed up it went downhill from there. The storyline was terrible. For a movie that looked like it has a lot of action in it, well I nearly went to sleep watching it.

The ending was even pretty bad. I mean there was shooting upstairs and yet nobody downstairs heard any shots until two bodies fell into the pool. Schuuster (played by James Caan) was no more than 10 meters from the pool, fired about 12 shots and hit his target once.

Definitely give this one a miss.

Honestly went for the Star power?

[bbickley13-921-58664 · 11 February 2014]

I went to see this movie because of the recognizable names of Shannon Elisabeth, Jason Patrick, and James Caan, but looking back at it, I'm not sure why. There was a time when having all three in a movie would draw a bigger crowd, but I'm not sure if all their 15 minutes of fame ever overlapped with each other. The movie is about a father who finds out his daughter's dead and goes to LA to ID a body that turns out not to be his daughter. When I read this description I assumed given the actors evolved that James Caan was the dad, Shannon Elisabeth was the daughter, and Jason Patrick had something to do with her going missing, but instead all three top names play mostly back seat drivers to some British actor behind the wheel who's most likely a bigger draw in the UK than he is here. The movie is very genetic and bland and kind of goes fully by the numbers for an action flick with nothing really sticking out to impress me. Although I did love James Caan in it.

Decent film, really bad sound

[glynisthomason · 4/10 · 30 August 2014]

This could have been a really good film but we struggled to hear the whole film. The English accent of the main character was not brilliant and the West Coast US accent of many of the actors meant it really difficult to hear individual words. We went through all the changes of sound on our system - even turned off the surround sound in case this made a difference, but each the voices were mumbled and muffled. it was a case of guess the words the whole way through. Have to say though, that I have to nominate Craig Fairbrass for a better Jack Reacher than Tom Cruise. I hope Lee Childs etc decide to change the actor for the next film

Tired Actors Plodding Pace Bulky British Star

[LeonLouisRicci · 3/10 · 23 May 2014]

Sleepy Action Movie with a Few Familiar Faces for Support and a Hulking Tough Guy from across the Pond. The Plot is as Haggard and Confused as the Driving Fights are Buy the Book Boring.

James Caan Struggles for Breath, not During a Confrontation but just a Conversation and Jason Patric is Forgettable as are the Two Beauties along for Eye Candy. Craig Fairbrass is the Star Sporting a Large Frame, Military Training, and a Thick Accent that makes things even Less Attainable.

Overall, it is Not Worth Much even for the Most Completest of DTV Action Junkies and those who are the most Forgiving of Fisticuffs and Firearms Fans, because this one has a Pacing that just Plods.

What a great disappointment

[Andfinally · 4/10 · 4 February 2023]

The outline plot of this movie, and the fact that it had Craig Fairbrass in a starring role made me think this had the ingredients of a fun, action movie so I looked forward to this with much anticipation of a well spent hour and a half. I am not one for being too petty and analysing a movie and I'm sure many movie fans will spot something such as poor acting before I would.

However, there was so many elements of this film. That were below par, I just felt they had to be mentioned.

I was disappointed in the performance of the lead male, Craig Fairbrass.

He did not seem convincing, and his lines simply just did not seem natural.

In addition to this, the editing and sound were very poor along with the picture quality.

I gave this 4 out of 10 and I was possibly being a little generous.

Pleasantly surprised

[Tattytails · 7/10 · 24 February 2014]

I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised for this low budget film. Suspenseful, action packed and good story line, this movie kept me waiting for what was next. The first five minutes got you straight into the film with the murder of a girl thought to be the daughter of Lex Walker. As the plot unfolded, it was easy to see who was behind the murder but the suspense came when you didn't know where his investigation would lead him next. Good mix with the British and American cast. The action was great, clean and not blood thirsty which tied in well with Lex Walkers character as a military man. Only criticism is I would have liked it better without all the 'F' bombs, the movie would have been better without it.

Short and Simple (read here)

[justin_rassi · 1/10 · 16 March 2014]

Seriously seriously seriously this movie is the biggest try hard movie out there, the camera angles really anoyyed me it's not a A-class movie is say it's D-grade movie so terrible I'm saving you guys now don't watch it movie is so stupid.

okay so let me get this straight if your still reading this that means your still unsure okay ....fine

storyline hmmm well read the storyline for Barbie and the nutcracker it is a much stronger storyline.

Actors again there D-grade actors main character is like a try hard Jason statham big time.

camera angles irritated me so much it's like there amateur camera man trying to be professionals it was so bad

save your time and look for another movie

It is so not Taken, but this is a decent caper kind of action movie.

[face-819-933726 · 7/10 · 12 March 2014]

I like Craig Fairbrass as a lead, he comes across a lot like the ham fisted Liam Neeson in a performance that is very similar to Taken, in the part plaid by Firbanks only, the story does not develop in any way like Taken there is just a similarity in the characters. Beyond that noise there is a decent movie here with action, and some good suspense. Not much beyond a TV movie, though of a decent quality. The story is well written, it takes from a few other stories of this genre, and weaves it's own results. I Enjoyed the character development, and the action was good, always fast, and back to the story with a good flow. I would recommend this one to action movie fans, on the whole it is really not exceptional, but it will fill some time, and you won't feel ripped off at the end. Some language, and a bit of blood, but very tame really for what it could be, and even compared to the way Seagal used to break things back in the 90's.

Couldn't do it

[forevayoung-7-43701 · 2/10 · 21 May 2014]

I'm going to be struggling to manage the required number of words to review this one. Mainly because I couldn't finish it because it was so below average. I did try though. However, the low budget shots with almost no camera work and incredibly stifled and stereotypical acting was just too much for me, and I had to can it about half way through. I guess if you had absolutely nothing else to watch, nowhere to go and no friends to talk to, then this might just be what you need to fill in a couple of hours. But if this does not describe you then I would steer clear of this shocker and go and do something more constructive - like updating your facebook status.

Where debt ratios become an ethical problem

[foxmasters · 8/10 · 25 February 2021]

Walker is an energetic man who can assert himself. When he learns that his daughter has passed away, he investigates, although every possible means is to be prevented. It is bricked up in the industrial, financial and sex milieus in which she apparently hangs around. It is dangerous terrain that he is entering. But half as dangerous for a "seasoned man" as for a young girl ...

Underrated Action Film

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 13 December 2020]

The former British military Lex Walker (Craig Fairbrass) is presently working as a contractor in Afghanistan, when he is informed that his estranged daughter Samantha (Melissa Ordway) died in Los Angeles. He travels to London, but is informed that he needs to fly to LA to identify the body. When he arrives at the morgue, he finds that the corpse is not hers and decides to look for Samantha´s whereabouts. He discovers the last phone calls and places where Samantha was and meets her former boss Karl Schuuster (James Caan), who has a suspicious behavior. Lex proceeds his investigation, while is followed by Detective Klein (Jason Patric) that is assigned for the case, and by Schuuster's men that want to find Samantha. What happened to Samantha?

"The Outsider" is an absolutely underrated action film. The story is good, the characters are well-developed and the conclusion is highly entertaining. Fortunately I have not seen the IMDb User Rating before watching this movie; otherwise I would might have been misguided. Fans of action films will certainly enjoy "The Outsider". My vote is seven.

Title (Brazi): Perseguição Implacável" ("Relentless Pursue")

Indecipherable

[davecalhoun-2 · 1/10 · 14 March 2014]

As others have said the basic plot is simple. Daughter reported dead, dad says it isn't her, dad goes on rampage to find daughter. Not the same as Taken but obviously an attempt to vary the theme.

Starting with the actors there is the basic problem of being able to understand them. Everything they say is muffled and guttural sounding. Even when they can be understood their lines don't make any sense.

The plot also seems very poor. I know they were trying to ride the Taken wave but there's no way any father would react the way the main character does. One example is when he visits the office his daughter worked at. He talks to the boss, gets mad, and beats up the security guards. Why? The security guards are just doing their job escorting him out. He has no further business in the building. So why stop on his way out to beat them up and get arrested. Ahh, so he can meet the police working the case of the actual dead girl. Why didn't he go there directly?

The camera work also seems very poor. It's a rare scene to get a good view of an actors face during what should be intense emotional moments. Maybe I shouldn't fault the camera guy. The actors never varied their facial expressions so maybe it was an attempt to hide what poor acting jobs they were doing.

Over all you can expect random tough guy lines and violence that makes no sense. I made it part way though the movie and turned it off. It's just a loud indecipherable mess.

Average Thriller! 2/10

[leonblackwood · 5 April 2014]

Review: This is your basic crime thriller movie about a man trying to find his daughter who has been mistakenly identified as dead. If you've seen Craig Fairbrass movies before, then you know what to expect. He basically goes round kicking ass and the performances aren't anything amazing. It does seem quite low budget, even though James Caan and Jason Patric are in the movie, but you do end up sticking with it because the storyline takes time to unfold. The action does seem real and the storyline isn't totally bad, but it isn't one of those movies that will stick out in your mind. Average!

Round-Up: Even since the failure of Speed 2, Jason Patric has fallen off of the radar and he only pops up in movies every now and again. After the promising Lost Boys his career hadn't really taken off due to bad choices and an acting style that isn't that unique. James Caan just seems to take any role that comes along, but he will always be remembered for the Godfather and Misery. Craig Fairbrass will always be type casted because of his big build and his cockney accent. We will never see if he can really act until he does something out of his comfort zone.

Budget: $4million Worldwide Gross: N/A

I recommend this movie to people who are into there crime/thrillers about a an English man trying to find his daughter in America. 2/10

I wanted to like this movie. But I just couldn't.

[lava-70009 · 5/10 · 7 October 2019]

There was some promise in this film. But I have to say it got buried under poor writing, unimaginative cinematography, and a heavy-handed approach to film-making and storytelling.

Leto performed well, given the fact they handed him an impossible character. One which is supposed to connect with the audience on an emotional level, while also being a detached psychopathic killer. Believe it or not, there is a way to do this engagingly and 'correctly'. Leon the Professional comes to mind. They didn't do that here.

The overly-long transition scenes were a poor attempt at pacing. The acting rarely managed to deliver the goods, and the ending was trite and unimpressive. However, they clearly splurged on the scoring which was a welcome surprise. It's a Japanese lovefest all the way around, giving us all the the things traditionally associated with the country. But while I appreciate paying homage to an incredibly unique and beautiful culture, I don't think staining it with the horrific crimes of a small subset of the population was entirely appropriate.

Bottom line? I don't think this movie is worth your time. And I'm sorry to say that. It really had some potential, it was so unrealized.

Out for blood

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 24 October 2018]

James Caan is an actor with talent, having done a number of fine performances in great and more films. The title and poster also intrigued. Have an appreciation for action and the idea for the story sounded interesting. Expectations were not high though, having not been impressed at all by the other Brian A. Miller films seen, the others being 'Reprisal', 'The Prince' and 'Vice', all with a well past prime Bruce Willis.

'The Outsider' is not a good film sadly and Caan deserved much better. Comparing the other Brian A. Miller-directed films seen, 'The Outsider' is the best of them while having similar, actually even the same, faults. It fails in the action stakes, faring very unfavourably in relation to other films seen in the genre, and while the same, or similar, premise has been very engagingly done on film 'The Outsider' manages to portray it with no thrills complete with dull pacing, lots of silliness and endless predictability. Not hating it with pleasure, it's my honest opinion and my negative feelings towards it are regrettable.

Will say that there are more visually amateurish films around, there are moments where there is slickness and style.

Best thing about 'The Outsider' is Caan, who has the grizzly intensity, steely command and professionalism that is not present in the rest of the cast.

However, Jason Patric completely lacks intensity and even charisma, very anaemic and Craig Fairbrass mumbles his way through his role, he looks the act with an imposing physique but the awkward and monotone acting is another story. Everybody else is bland and annoying.

Visually, the film does lack cohesion. The music is too loud, should have been used far less and some of the placement is inappropriate. Brian A. Miller directs like he was inexperienced to directing when in reality he wasn't, there is just no energy, momentum or finesse and the non-action oriented parts are handled so indifferently.

Dialogue from the very start to the rushed climax is riddled with clichés and cheese and what little there is of the story is very fatigued and has no surprises, fun or tension, is very pedestrian in pace and fails to make sense or have signs of maturity. Tension and suspense are non-existent. 'The Outsider' goes overboard on the ridiculousness and lack of plausibility and at other points it takes itself too seriously. The action is clumsily choreographed, sloppily edited and not exciting or suspenseful at all, as well as looking at least twenty years out of date and relying far too heavily on convenience. The characters are not compelling or easy to get behind. Do not expect every character in every film to be likeable when characters in numerous films purposefully aren't, but it is an issue if there are characters meant to be rootable and 'The Outsider' has that problem.

Concluding, weak but not a complete shambles. 3/10 Bethany Cox

Aghhh!

[neilsoncox · 2/10 · 31 December 2020]

Oh dear. James Caan, you short of money?

Acting fine, though obvious Mr Fairbrass doesn't punch hard considering the fights take sooooo long. Acting ok, story poor. Watched to the end, not sure why. Not the best film of its ilk.

WHERE IS SHE?

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 26 May 2019]

Lex Walker (Craig Fairbrass) is a British mercenary. When he is not killing, his second love is Jack Daniels followed by his semi-estranged daughter Samantha (Melissa Ordway). Lex must leave his job to fly to LA (the LA that looks like Baton Rouge where the film was shot) and identify the body of his daughter. Except it is not her!!! Craig Fairbrass stars in this film because Liam Neeson has already done one.

James Caan is in the film, so we know who plays the bad guy and how this ends. The only mystery is what is the daughter into (explained about an hour into the film) and how many people get killed/beat up in the process.

The DVD box description claims Lex works with a detective (Jason Patric) to find his daughter. That is a bit of a stretch, as the two never work side by side. He is instead helped by a bar waitress (Shannon Elizabeth) who he over tipped.

James Caan had to use some carefully orchestrated tough guys moves as it looks like he has been propped up aka "Weekend at Bernies." I had to laugh as he carefully punched some huge steroid freak and doubled him over.

The film is okay for those who need something to pass the time. Clearly formulaic and doesn't create intensity. A bit on the Seagal campy side.

Parental Guide: F-bombs. No sex or nudity.

Such a pathetic movie. AWFUL!

[binthaider-755-822849 · 1/10 · 25 October 2014]

The most annoyingly rubbish movie ever. Please please please do not waste your time.

The dialogue was unforgivably cringe-worthy, the acting was horrendous, the actors were terrible, the whole thing was just a disaster.

Now I am struggling to come up with the required number of words for this retard of a movie. Every negative word in the dictionary couldn't cover it.

After this movie i ended up watching "The Prince", which was equally as ridiculous with a similar kind of plot. Both movies had Jason Patric in.

I need to do some serious research before i watch my next movie or i'm afraid i might just break my TV.

Great Plot, A Recount Story

[maralvimmm · 7/10 · 9 November 2017]

A cool, action movie where we have a story told by the movies, but well done here, from the father who looks for the daughter, has the moments that we do not tell, twists, good movie, I like everything, holds us and takes us in this !!!!

Filmmaker, who also acts is Brien A. Miller, is new to the role, but has twice directed Bruce Willians in The Machine (2015) and The Prince (2014), so he understands the scratched. Actors are well, I really like the protagonist Craig Fairbrass, actor in Total Risk (1993) and Guerra Entre Gangues (2007).

Cuttlemonkey...

[fluffybunny0408 · 1/10 · 15 January 2015]

you seriously need to stop. In answer to your question, it would have been a more expensive movie that still sucks. As the only movies you've reviewed have been director Brian A. Miller's films, with The Way We Were thrown in for good measure, anyone with an ounce of common sense is left to conclude only that you are either Miller himself, sleeping with him, or collecting a paycheck from him. Upon doing some minor research, I found that Cuttlemonkey is the twitter handle for a young woman whose other social media accounts show that she is indeed the girlfriend of the aforementioned Mr. Miller.

Desperation is quite unbecoming.

Legends of the Fall has an overall rating of 7.5. The Godfather has an overall rating of 9.2. You expect us to believe this ridiculous flop is a 10?

Anywho...walked in to find my girlfriend watching this on Netflix (where it only has one star), and continued to watch it with her because I thought I recognized the lead actor as someone whose performances I have enjoyed in the past. After 30 minutes, I was bored. After 45 minutes, I was irritated. An hour into it, I was so mad at how bad it was, I turned the stupid thing off.

Think Taken, but really, really, really bad. That sums it up.

Wanna be writers are at it again

[djmike-63474 · 8/10 · 29 June 2022]

Once again everybody can't be a critic, so they come here and bash good movie's. This movie had the perfect balance that you want in a movie. Good storyline, fair amount of drama, good acting, great action, cool ending. Watch the movie. Remember it's a B flick. Nuff Said Mike Out.

Just another DTV action thriller

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 8 June 2023]

THE OUTSIDER is another of those modern DTV action thrillers that just feels a bit off. The staging is limited, all empty streets and empty rooms, and the plot is as slim as they come. This one sees screen hard-ass Craig Fairbrass playing a military operator who heads off to America when he hears of the death of his daughter. He soon discovers that she's not really dead but instead involved in a minor conspiracy, and the story goes from there. It's join-the-dots material and even the presence of veteran bad guy James Caan does little to enliven things. Fairbrass gets to bust a few heads and Jason Patric plays a cop, but this is unexciting and a little dull to sit through.

I give 2 star to this movie...I hope you all know why i give this much stars

[bienvenidos2050 · 18 March 2014]

This movie is a lot of fun, i mean i watched whole movie and i thought what if i had a remote in my hand and i would forward some scenes from it. I also think that this type of movie i have seen back in 2001-2006 year and i felt like that story writer doesn't have the knowledge to make a proper movie.This type of movies, story writer used to make back 5-10 years ago. Nothing new in this. It is like i wasted my time watching this movie. It is like no new ideas to make a movie. And 1 more thing is funny, over-acting that i grab in some scenes. Also, funny story again. And millionaire have a enough security guards to check any person whom comes in to its party when he has many person with guns and bouncers. And without checking they came in and that is the funniest thing i came to know. Guards inside the party available but not the outside to check for security well that funny. Well i have seen movies like Italian job and others. I salute this story writers and directors by not making mistakes like this big things. But this guy whomever the story writer must need to know one thing that when you write story then you or anybody, even the director must know and make a natural movie that may audiences attract. Make a proper movie and i am sure you will earn stars. For rightnow i have nothing but to give you proper 2/10 star.

Sorry..