Prime Video's The Bluff Trades Swashbuckling for John Wick Style Violence
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon reviews Prime Video's The Bluff, an R-rated action film starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban that swaps traditional pirate swashbuckling for John Wick style violence.
For anyone who thought the golden age of pirate cinema died with Disney, Prime Video is stepping in with a decidedly bloodier take on the high seas. In a recent review by Polygon, critic Jesse Hassenger breaks down The Bluff, a gritty action-adventure starring Karl Urban and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Set in 1846, the film leans away from family-friendly fantasy and swashbuckling tropes, opting instead for the brutal, multi-weapon choreography popularized by the John Wick franchise and the tight space tension of Die Hard.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas stars as Ercell, a retired pirate once known as Bloody Mary who is forced back into action when a vengeful captain named Connor, played by Karl Urban, tracks her down for a stolen cache of gold. While the premise carries strong pirate cinema DNA, the execution is much closer to a home invasion thriller than a grand seafaring voyage. Director Frank E. Flowers keeps the focus on visceral, close-quarters combat rather than expensive open-water sequences, though the film occasionally relies on green-screen tricks to place its characters near the ocean.
For modern audiences used to high-octane action cinema and relentless pacing, The Bluff delivers plenty of stylized violence and standout performances from its lead cast. While it occasionally falls into familiar action movie traps like relying on standard family endangerment tropes, it offers a fresh, R-rated spin on historical action that stands apart from typical franchise fare. It is a solid watch for anyone looking for hard-hitting choreography on their weekend streaming rotation.
Tags: Streaming, Movies, Prime Video, Action Movies, Polygon
Original article: Polygon