The Mercenary (2019) User Reviews (33)

mindless B-movie action

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 21 January 2021]

Maxx (Dominiquie Vandenberg) is a member of a mercenary military squad led by LeClerc. They battle Islamic terrorists in Africa and the Middle East. During a raid on a drug cartel in Colombia, Maxx tries to protect a local from a rapist mercenary. Maxx has his throat slashed and left for dead. Without a voice, he is nursed back to health by Father Elias and his congregation. He even joins the Father until his past revisits him.

It's an action B-movie. It's solid for what it is but it doesn't have the it which could elevate this to something more. It doesn't have the charismatic lead. Vandenberg seems to come from the stunt world and has a good look for a villain. He's basically Michael Ironside without the good guy charms. He doesn't have the sly fun. The action is solid shooting action and some fight action. It's nothing spectacular and it's as big as the limited budget would allow. It's mindless action without any wow factor.

Padre Rambo

[danielcereto · 6/10 · 19 March 2020]

Here we have a pretty decent action flick. Coreographies and action scenes are pretty well done. On the other hand weak plot or script, but who cares on an action B movie. Overall a good one if you're in the mood of watching some action.

More Vandenberg films please.

[kjjames81 · 5/10 · 7 January 2020]

It was nice to see Dominiquie vandenberg in a main acting roll, these at the moment are hard to come by. Vandenberg usually plays a very minor roll in films and you may see him for between five to fifteen minutes a a movie, so seeing that this was a film being driven by Vandenberg I jumped t the chance to see it. First the good bits, yes there are a few, it was great to see Dominiquie vandenberg in a film at which he is the main actor. The fight scenes weren't bad, Pit Fighter and Perfect Sleep had better fight scenes. The action didn't let up and by the way it's full of blood sprays. Now the not so good points, where the film is set, it was made for cheap and this is why it is played out in a all deserted town. While fights were good, some were bad, let's shoot at the hero and miss when I am right by him, when this happens you know the film is cheap. Next time I would love to see Vandenberg in a bigger budget and maybe Isaac Florentine to direct it, now don't get me wrong, Jessie Johnson done a good job but I feel it was a wasted opportunity.

I am giving this film a five just because it was great to see Dominiquie vandenberg in a starring role, more please.

If your a fan, go on you tube and watch the prison break scene he did and then you will see just how good Vandenberg can be.

Lousy, "C"-grade acting...

[rickwhite1962 · 3/10 · 8 January 2020]

The script is so primitive and the acting horrendous. The only tolerable acting was from the older priest. The fight scenes were a struggle to watch... Very disappointing.

2 bit acting , with no grasp of reality

[mikeyraynz · 1/10 · 5 April 2020]

Art department continuity fail , alongside cardboard acting , one minute nails through the wrist next scene bandages with blood marks in the forearm , and eyelines looking no where tbey should , I would be ashamed to put my name to thi steaming pile of horse.....

Just Don't Waste Your Time

[simuyanyumbani · 2/10 · 3 April 2020]

Sooo cheaply made. So childish. Even scripts are bad. Action the worst. Story line 1st Grade Drama. Wasted my money.

Man

[ms-77450 · 11 February 2021]

This is what I call talent free acting. lol........

Love Dominique

[sderrickson-55444 · 7/10 · 25 January 2020]

Parents guide indicated shld be rated R for violence and profanity but also nudity/attempted rape. Dominique was great in his role but some of the other acting/fight scenes were less credible/enjoyable

Terrible directing and unrealistic action scenes

[joelashley-704-631621 · 2/10 · 13 July 2020]

The acting could maybe slide by but would certainly win no awards. But the action scenes were contrived, and whoever was in charge of blood realism should go back to training school. Severed neck arteries won't shoot steady streams 4 feet. The "hero" character comes off too quiet, condescending to superiors, and introverted.

You should skip this and look for other action films with better ratings.

My Review Of "The Mercenary"

[ASouthernHorrorFan · 7/10 · 5 February 2020]

The story is very familiar, a man seeking redemption, forced back into darkness when his violent past comes back to haunt him. There is tragic loss, bloodshed, revenge and a reluctant sidekick. It is a format that has permeated action film and television for decades. "The Mercenary" mirrors it's predecessors but does so spectacularly.

This isn't a genre I seek out, but having gotten hooked into the concept via 'Strike Back', I have come to appreciate quality storytelling in this genre. Johnson's film lacks some of the bigger budget asthetics, but still manages enough drama and climactic arc to capture it's audience. The acting is decent, not stellar but good enough so that you can get into the movie.

The effects blend CGI with more baser practical effects and quality choreography. It is what you expect to see in a action film. It is also very predictable. There isn't anything here that hasn't been seen before, still "The Mercenary" does it right, even on an obviously lower budget. Overall it is an entertaining action film that is worth checking out- if you are into action films.

Avoid.....just avoid

[djaho · 1/10 · 14 June 2020]

Bad plot....and acting...and action scenes...bad everything.

Mercenary👍👍👍

[nnolichristian · 8/10 · 30 June 2020]

Great movie I enjoy every moment in this movie go get it.

Vengeance Is Mine Sayeth The Lord !

[pkdyer1965 · 7/10 · 10 January 2020]

First real action film I've seen this year, there won't be a more brutal and bloody one. We have a new action hero in Dominique Vandenberg and ably supported by Louis Mandylor who plays a malicious ex mercenary turned cartel enforcer. Maxx left for dead twice by Leclerc seeks vengeance for spoiling his new karma. Not for the screamish the killing is very nasty more for aficinardos

Do not waste your time!

[khansariehsan · 1/10 · 10 January 2020]

If you have free time, play game instead of watching this movie! A type of super hero films with tremendous unbelievable actions...

Solid for a B list Action movie

[remyxi · 5/10 · 9 March 2022]

This movie is not that bad, sure the script or plot are weak but it is fun, perfect for easy viewing and in mood for something really light. Credits for the actions, quite well done!

Soldier business

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 18 January 2020]

Action superstar Dominique Vandenberg and acclaimed filmmaker Jesse V. Johnson, director of Triple Threat and Accident Man - which was based on the 2000AD comic - team for 2020's most explosive action blockbuster - The Mercenary.

Well, that's what the press release said and who am I to try to question them?

Maxx (Vandenberg, Triple Threat, Gangs of New York) is a legionnaire turned mercenary. When a mission in South America goes wrong, he's left for dead but is nursed back to life. Now, he wants to live in peace, but we all know how that works. His old mercenary buddies cross the path of Maxx and his new friends. That means that in order to find peace, Maxx is going to have to turn back to war.

Expect lots of squibs and bullets flying through the air. If you're looking for an action film and well, there haven't been any in awhile, this is a decent pick.

It's not worth watching

[kapilarj · 1/10 · 26 May 2021]

It's so low Budget Movie. Cheap made. Video Effects are so bad. Anyone can noticed this cheap, low quality effects so easily. Also Sound mixing is really bad. Sound are not quilt sync with the movie. You can feel it, when you playing the movie, Sounds are on separate, different environment. You can clearly feel that. Action are very Bad. Worst is the most suitable word I think. Explosion, Blood are so fake, Waste of Money, Waste of time. Totally disappointed.

Mindless action

[MikeWindgren · 6/10 · 20 May 2020]

I did not like the beginning of this movie. But after main character Max gets to the priest it kinda picks up and gets better.

When you are in the mood for mindless action and bloodshed this one might be the right choice.

It's not per se a very good movie, but also not as bad as some make you believe.

Do not expect a big budget Hollywood action flick and perhaps you will like this one.

cliché

[gdogaru · 5/10 · 8 January 2020]

The movie is so cliche, I may have a gun but let's do a knife fight, evil person finding himself, bad guy being stupid and arrogant, priest being the equilibrium Also, very violent

Silly fun

[louiepapp · 6/10 · 25 November 2020]

If you don't mind continuity errors (Weapons disappearing, reappearing, wounds moving about the body) or other odd discrepancies from one shot to the other. Then this is the movie for you. Like the expendables with out the big names. Some decent Karate. I especially liked the Kata scenes.

Whooah, a new low?

[imseeg · 3/10 · 11 December 2023]

Director Jesse V Johnson has made a LOT of great B-movies, but this is not one of them...

The bad: is this truly a new low for director Johnson, because from the get go this movie looked incredibly silly and lame. The shootouts are so incredibly amateurishly filmed and acted that it hurts me to watch it, it's THAT silly.

Not any good? NO.

BUT... please do check out some of Jesse V Johnson's other directed movies, because he is the ultimate B-movie director, with lots of movies that thrill from start till finish. "Avengement" (2019) and "Hell Hath No Fury" (2021) are thrilling B-movies, which can equal with any A-listed action movies for sure!

The "I kick ass for The Lord" club just found it newest member and his name is Dominiquie Vandenberg

[phanthinga · 8/10 · 24 February 2020]

The Mercenary (2019) is the latest action movie directed by Jesse V. Johnson starring Dominique Vandenberg as the lead and although I only know Vanderberg as the crazy French mercenary guy from Triple Threat his performance in that movie already sold him as an actor for me and this movie is the perfect chance for me to see Vanderberg at his best and I was right. Old school 80s shoot out with many delicious bloody squibs plus Vanderberg awesome knife skill really elevated the movie beyond your usual poorly made B-movie. Louis Mandylor is excellent as the main bad guy LeClerc while Carmen Argenziano as Father Elias the one who shed the new light on Vanderberg character Maxx was a chore to sit through due to how over the top and cringy he is every time he preach about something.

Today is his day.

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 21 January 2020]

Maxx (Dominiquie Vandenberg) is a trained mercenary whose character we never get to know. While operating in Columbia, his college decides to rape a girl before he kills her. Maxx who just killed a bunch of people for money thinks this is wrong, interferes and gets his throat cut. Left for dead, he is nursed back to health by a poor village parish. Later he former group harasses the village and you know the rest because there was nothing remotely having a twist.

If you like an old fashion one-man vigilante kill team, this is it. Action, and not much of anything else.

Guide: F-word, attempted rape. Nudity (Nihan Gur?)

Decent

[mantasj09 · 6/10 · 12 February 2021]

I have to admit, even among a low budget direct-to-video action film output, 'The Mercenary' looks rather cheap. Extremely basic settings and decorations spurs the feeling that all the scenes were filmed in one single set (even, though the characters supposedly visit different continents throughout the film). Narrowly framed shots make you feel like the operator was afraid some random props might just be captured with wider camera angles and this impression only emphasizes almost palpable shortage of filming funds.

Disregarding all of that, the film is engaging and delivers decent action scenes. Mostly due to solid, even though somewhat minimalistic performance by Mr Vandenberg. He has a strong screen presence, similar to Charles Bronson back in 70s, and doesn't have to do much to look intense or intimidating. Even though the story is quite basic and, in different variations, was tried in various films and even computer games, it is still engaging and, coloured with decent fighting sequences (by direct-to-video standards, obviously) and captivating score, consisting of a single flute tune, delivers a decent spectacle.

The whole film feels solidly put together and this is what you'd expect from Jesse V Johson as a director. It seems he's an expert when it comes to squeezing out everything that is possible out of limited budgets he usually has to work with. Even though this is an inferior product compared to his recent outputs with Scott Adkins ('Avengement', for example, pops into mind), the film is still worth a check for any action fan.

weak...

[RosanaBotafogo · 6/10 · 15 June 2020]

With so many muscles and beauties, with a dose of humor, there is no way to be bad, SQN, without a comic dose, beauty doesn't set the table, I wasn't able to win... Reseating by mistake, I just liked Antonio Flags, his character is fun and just...