Renegades (2022) – Will Blow More Than the Bloody Doors Off

Directed by: Daniel Zirilli

Starring: Nick Moran, Lee Majors, Ian Ogilvy, Patsy Kensit, Billy Murray, Paul Barber, Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott, Michael Paré, Stephanie Beacham, Michael Brandon, Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister with Louis Mandylor and Danny Trejo 

Synopsis: When Veteran Green Beret Carver (Lee Majors) is murdered by a drug gang controlled by Goram (Louis Mandylor) that has been threatening his daughter (Patsy Kensit), his old Special Forces comrades (Nick Moran, Ian Ogilvy, Billy Murray, Paul Barber) reunite to seek revenge, aided by the enigmatic Sanchez (Danny Trejo). As these Renegades dispense their own brand of justice on the mean streets of London with the police (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) hot on their trail, they must use every trick in their war hero playbook to stay one step ahead of the sinister gang. 

It’s Renegades time! 

Daniel Zirilli and Jonathan Sothcott keep you on the edge of your seat with this high-octane, explosive action thriller that will have your adrenaline pumping! 

In this collaboration, Daniel Zirilli, best known for his extensive action catalogue, joins forces with Shogun owner and producer Jonathan Sothcott. Together, they end 2022 with Renegades, a star-studded action ensemble set in the mean streets of London. 

The Mission

Renegades follows a group of former Special Forces soldiers who seek revenge for the death of one of their own. What’s really cool about this is that they’re not The Expendables and despite their ageing, the fire is still burning, it just needs stoked. Except for Nick Moran. He has the crazy Martin Riggs [Lethal Weapon] revenge mode on full blast. 

The fact that these guys aren’t trying to be Jason Bourne clones, don’t dropkick villains, crash through doors, or move as fast as the speed of light does not mean that they aren’t dangerous. In order to defeat their enemies, they set traps and use their special set of skills.  A perfect example of this is the finale, which is sure to satisfy hungry action fans. 

The Perfect British Ensemble?

There is no doubt that the cast is incredible, every face is iconic. Burton, a war veteran taken in by Major Carver, is loyal and thinks highly of Carver and the rest of the team – they are his family. Ian Ogilvy is Peck, the suave Roger Moore, Dirk Benedict – leader type, he is well respected amongst the team and is very gentlemen- James Bond like compared to the rest of the Renegades. Murray plays Woody, an old school badass with an eye patch ready to take on any challenge. As Harris, Paul Barber brings to life the old school character who just wants to blow something up. These guys have been through the wars, literally.  It’s apparent Billy Murray is having a blast playing Woody, and the fans will be in stitches. Lee Majors plays Major. Carver a key figure in their lives. A mentor, a friend and a brother in arms. These guys are the fearless Renegades.

Cameos from Danny Trejo, Tiny Lister, Michael Paré leave the door open to explore their characters further down the line. (Minus Lister as he sadly passed away) Trejo and Paré both play good guys. Paré plays a badass merc named Donovan who has ties to Jeanine’s detective Moore and Trejo plays Sanchez, the go-to guy for intel. He aids the Renegades. Lister was a big bad whose character seemed like a force to be reckoned with. Stephanie Beacham is the police captain who quite frankly doesn’t mind the Renegades getting rid of the ‘untouchable’ scum in the city and Michael Brandon is a mysterious operative who we know will be a complete badass in a sequel! Director, Daniel Zirilli also has a cameo which potentially sets up a story/character for later use.  

Performances

Louis Mandylor is Goram, a ruthless drug lord who doesn’t hesitate to remove anyone who threatens him or attempts to undermine him. James Chalke is Goram’s hitman, a cold calculated killer that doesn’t think twice about taking a life.   

Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott is Detective Moore. She is a step behind the Renegades as they leave a trail of death and destruction through London’s underworld. Jeanine is superb in her role and never seems out of place despite being surrounded by so many iconic stars. 

As Burton, a man on the edge and out for revenge, Nick Moran gives a career-best performance. In the aftermath of the death of Major Carver, he becomes a modern-day Rambo, determined not to stop until he gets his own brand of justice.

The scenes where Moran is suffering from PTSD and his performance during the interrogation scenes are absolutely incredible. Additionally, Moran delivers a very strong performance as an action lead and his final fight scene against Louis Mandylor’s villainous Goram solidifies his reputation as a badass.  

Shogun could well be this era’s Cannon Films!   

Renegades is without a doubt Sothcott’s love child, and he is laying the foundation for building a cinematic universe around these characters. 

Personally, I look forward to watching Sothcott and Shogun Films grow under the direction of action maestro, Zirilli. 

You don’t want to miss this!