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Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness

As homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson, back from a seven yeur screen hiatus) investigates the death of his political-activist daughter, he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence. Directed by New Zealander Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), based on his own 1985 BBC mini-series.

Starring Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts, Denis O'Hare

Directed by Martin Campbell ('Casino Royale', 'The Legend of Zorro', 'Vertical Limit', 'GoldenEye')

Thriller, Mystery, Drama | 1hr 57mins | Rated (R16) | contains violence & offensive language | Origin: USA

Flicks review

  • Edge of Darkness is a solid but underwhelming thriller. Mel Gibson is placed here as the action star, but I think Liam Neeson did a better job in Taken (also a father-daughter revenge flick). Mel has intensity about him but he’s chosen a rather mediocre vehicle for his first onscreen appearance in seven years.

    Helmer Martin Campbell has a talent for staging action sequences (as evidenced in Casino Royale or GoldenEye) – too bad there aren’t many here. It’s mostly people talking to each other, or Mel punching their lights out when he gets frustrated.

    Ray Winstone, as a mysterious hitman, is the most appealing character and the movie is fun to watch whenever he’s onscreen. Oddly, he doesn’t have too much to add to the narrative but show up every once in a while to quote some scholar or enjoy a glass of fine wine whilst waxing lyrical on the morals of crime.

    The story is involving enough and the plot has a few twists and turns but the bad guys are obvious from the start and it’s not hard to work out where this is going. Thankfully the ending comes as a surprise, if a silly one.

    Edge of Darkness feels like the cinematic equivalent of a novel you might read on a long-haul flight. It ties together in all the right places but you’re only reading it because you’ve got nothing else to do.

    By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz

 Our Rating       2

The Peoples voice

  • Really Good Conspiracy Story

     5

    Good for Mel. No Botox, no Boxes to stand on... Just went for it. Story needed to be told. Gripping story and fast moving excitement. Very good acting as a Dad's view of losing a daughter, and needing to know why and dealing to the bad guys. Also an eye opener about what lengths big business will go to, to lie, cheat and murder, to cover up dirty deeds. Worth remembering for future events ??
    Well done and satisfying.

    By Melfan Jones

  • It's a decent thriller.

     3

    If you keep your expectations low, I think it's a good capable movie. Mel Gibsons performance is a good and nice to see him back infront of the camera. Perhaps not for those looking for a feel good movie but I think it's better that what the other reviewers have thought.

    By Mr G

  • "Nothing Good about it"

     1

    This movie had a weak story line,Weak ending,weak everything about.

    To boring to call a thriller.

    More dramatic then anything, Mel gibson does play his part well,Not a movie worth paying for.

    By MovieCritikreviews

  • Oh No

     1

    I watched this and it reminded me of a bad Steven Seagal movie. Mel is tired, old, bad script and even worse storyline (and the end is quite predictable). Don't waist you money on this one.

    By Vega

  • Very slow For a Mel Gibson Film

     2

    This movie had a couple of moments where you thought there would be some "Action" and "Thriller", But this movie was truley Dramatic, The story Line was effective, and it wasnt a Predictable movie, You didnt Know what was going to happen next, This is a movie for you if you Like Mystery Films.

    By FilmCritikNewZealand

 Collective Voice    0000000000002.50

Your review has been posted, you have spoken, and for that we thank you. – Ed.

Tell us all that is right or wrong with this flick:

  • 1 2 3 4 5

Press Reviews

  • Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

    Winstone's interaction with Gibson provides the movie with much of its interest. For the rest, it's a skillful exercise in CGI and standard-order thriller supplies.
    Click to read the full review

  • Empire (UK)

    3 3 out of 5 stars

    An uneven, somewhat meandering thriller is given emotional pull by Mel Gibson’s excellent comeback performance. The lethal weapon hasn’t lost it.
    Click to read the full review

  • Hollywood Reporter

    An intense Mel Gibson performance anchors this brutally effective crime thriller.
    Click to read the full review

  • New York Times

    Edge of Darkness is reasonably well executed, but its competence reeks of fatigue. Another dead kid. Another angry dad. Another day at the office.
    Click to read the full review

  • NZ Herald (Peter Calder)

    3 3 out of 5 stars

    The film certainly has its moments - most of them when Gibson, in his first feature-film role since 2002's Signs, brings out Mad Mel.
    Click to read the full review

  • Otago Daily Times (Christine Powley)

    3 3 out of 5 stars

    Sadly, the shock factor is lost by the conclusion of this film
    Click to read the full review

  • Rolling Stone (USA)

    Gibson's acting has deepened. Too bad his comeback vehicle springs so many leaks.
    Click to read the full review

  • Total Film (UK)

    3 3 out of 5 stars

    Gibson proves he’s still not to be messed with in a film that reasserts him as a sturdy, if rather grizzled leading man. A pity, though, this required Campbell to cookie-cut his masterly ’80s TV series into a formulaic actioner.
    Click to read the full review

  • TV3 (Kate Rodger)

    4 4 out of 5 stars

    The squeamish beware, the R16 rating belts out some moments of hard fast brutal violence, this is not a film the whole family can enjoy. But even with my lily-liver I managed OK, and overall left feeling most satisfied indeed. Edge of Darkness won’t win awards, and it’s not a genre-defying boundary-breaker, but as far as conspiracy thrillers go, this one got my pulse-racing, my eyes glued to the screen, and was far more than I’d expected.
    Click to read the full review

  • Variety (USA)

    Campbell's topnotch production team yields predictably polished results, but the director's decision to revisit the late Troy Kennedy Martin's teleplay, finally, feels lacking.
    Click to read the full review

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