When Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua took on vigilante action with 2014’s The Equalizer, there wasn’t much to indicate that in 2023 we’d be wrapping up this story with a proper film trilogy. VERY loosely based on the 1980s TV series of the same name, the first film became a moderate hit which led to Washington starring in his first-ever sequel for the follow-up. The second installment was more of the same but that is not meant to be a dig. Washington’s Robert McCall captivates the screen in large part due to the actor’s charm & it’s something he brings back for the third and final chapter of the trilogy. The Equalizer 3 wears its brutality on its sleeve but thanks to Fuqua’s seasoned direction, the violence spills across the screen like a work of art, even if it doesn’t quite reinvent the wheel.
The McCall we meet in this film is much different from the man we first encountered in 2014. He’s more reserved and seems bogged down by the choices he has made in his past. It’s clear they have taken a mental toll on him as he has traded in Boston for what seemingly appears as a quiet existence in a small town in southern Italy. McCall is led here because of an act of violence that has forced him to recuperate under the care of an elderly doctor (Remo Girone). Once he’s recovered, he takes a liking to his new surroundings and the good people that inhabit it. It’s a contentment worthy of someone deserving of a break following everything he has gone through but we know that can’t last long.
Under the cover of the serenity of the town, it is being terrorized by a mob that doesn’t shy away from its own brand of violence. Once we see them torture a policeman with relish right in front of his wife and young daughter, we know they seriously mean business. However, faster than you can say “Why won’t you let me live in peace,” McCall is unleashing the justice that has become his trademark as he takes down various bad guys for messing with the people he has grown accustomed to.
Normally it would be a detriment to have a film play out as you’d expect it to but there is some comfort in the familiarity that permeates throughout The Equalizer 3. There is no doubt that McCall will be victorious and the joy comes in watching how exactly he will make his adversaries pay. To accept the third film and the franchise as a whole, you have to be okay with seeing characters dispatched that truly deserve it. The carnage is indeed brutal and Fuqua’s camera doesn’t shy away from showing it. If you’ve been along for the ride for the first two outings, nothing in the third film will surprise you but it might put a twisted smile on your face seeing loathsome individuals get what’s coming to them.
Fuqua is no stranger to turning violence into an art form. From Training Day to Shooter to this film series, the director has a penchant for dealing in grittiness that somehow doesn’t come off gratuitous, and Washington is most effectively used as his muse. It’s all very graphic and not for the faint of heart but it also feels necessary. It’s not easy to showcase violence like this as if it’s needed to move the plot forward but Fuqua’s talent behind the camera makes it appear like it’s not just on display to add more minutes to the runtime. The director comes out of the gate on this one with a truly bloody intro scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film, complete with McCall’s signature countdown to the inevitable pain he’s about to bring.
Even though Washington brings a lot of what has made the character work in the first two movies, he adds more of his megawatt star power to the project as well. McCall doesn’t get to smile much but when we do get to see him engage in a bit of happiness, it showcases more layers to the character that might be more one-note played by anyone else. Washington is believable in every aspect of the character’s evolution. You buy him as a sort of soulless enforcer of vigilante justice while you also buy into his character’s internal conflict as he seeks some kind of redemption for the acts that he’s committed. Richard Wenk’s script provides the actor with more character beats but it’s clear that it’s Washington’s undeniable talent that brings more to the screen than what is on the page.
A lot has been made of the reunion between Washington and Dakota Fanning, who first kept the actor on his toes as his young, yet wise beyond her years co-star in 2004’s Man on Fire. It was a pairing that moviegoers didn’t expect to tug at the heartstrings as her kidnapping became his character’s motivation to kill his way toward her safe return. Fanning is now a fully formed adult playing Emma Collins, a CIA agent who brings with her a key plot revelation. It’s no doubt nice seeing the pair share the screen again but it’s one of the aspects of the film that also feels like a missed opportunity. The character of Emma isn’t fully realized and even with that key plot point, the role doesn’t feel wholly pivotal. The audience’s enjoyment of seeing these two share scenes again will be directly linked to Man on Fire and not necessarily from this endeavor. That being said, even with seemingly little to do, Fanning still holds her own in scenes with the veteran actor and proves that age hasn’t diminished her ability to spar with the best of them. Other supporting roles are adequately portrayed by David Denman and Sonia Ammar but this remains Washington’s show.
The allure of the action and violence, along with Washington’s ability to make this all feel much more important than it is makes The Equalizer 3 an entertaining diversion. After a brisk start, you’ll have to settle in for a more quiet second act but this is all done to make you earn the sheer mayhem of the third act which is choreographed to bloody precision with a visceral impact that exceeds the level of the first two films. It doesn’t break new ground but that’s not necessary for the movie to provide blood-letting entertainment.
The Equalizer 3 debuts exclusively in theaters on September 1, 2023 courtesy of Sony Pictures.
The allure of the action and violence, along with Washington's ability to make this all feel much more important than it is makes The Equalizer 3 an entertaining diversion. After a brisk start, you'll have to settle in for a more quiet second act but this is all done to make you earn the sheer mayhem of the third act which is choreographed to bloody precision with a visceral impact that exceeds the level of the first two films. It doesn't break new ground but that's not necessary for the movie to provide blood-letting entertainment.
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Hello! My name is Gaius Bolling: movie, TV, and pop culture junkie! The industry has been in my veins since I was a kid and I have carried that on through adulthood. I attended Los Angeles Film Academy and participated in their screenwriting and editing program. From there, I have learned to hone my skills in the world of entertainment journalism. Some of my favorite genres include horror, action, and drama and I hope to share my love of all of this with you.
