You may’t blame me for not anticipating a lot out of President Down. First off, Tubi exclusives are identified to have a restricted funds. Secondly, and to my shock, it’s made by The Asylum. This is identical movie firm that introduced forth each single one of many Sharknado movies. Then again, they did make a greater Warfare of the Worlds adaptation than Amazon MGM. I used to be torn about giving this Nick Lyon-directed thriller an opportunity, however you recognize what? I’m so glad I did.
Sure, the same old gimmicks of a lower-end movie are current right here: inventory footage is used to ascertain the setting, and close-up photographs are employed to hide the precise location. On this case, all of that aligns with the film’s general tone. With a considerably trendy spin, President Down is a homage to all of the motion films we liked from the Eighties and Nineties.
The president is about to make a press release to the press involving a landmark truce between america and Russia when terrorists take over her pacemaker. Led by Agent Jacob Pike (performed by actor Jesse Kove), her crew shortly kicks it into excessive gear to not solely finish this hacking of the human physique but in addition cease a nuclear bomb headed to Washington, D.C. Kove was positively the proper alternative to guide this film. He’s not solely credible along with his performing, however he has an analogous physique to Reacher’s Alan Ritchson. There are additionally shock betrayals, tons of battle scenes, a memorable villain, and a romance thrown into this Tubi function for good measure.
‘President Down’ Has a Nice Hero and an Even Higher Villain
As with every good motion thriller, the pacing by no means lets up. One minute, Kove’s crew is breaking right into a pacemaker warehouse linked to Russian property. Subsequent, the squad is firing bullets right into a Vegas residence (truly an unlawful playing den). Lastly, President Down takes us up into Air Drive One, the place there’s a shocking climax that you may’t look away from — all of the whereas President Kat Collins (dropped at life by actress Gail O’Grady) is trying to have surgical procedure to take away the hijacked coronary heart helper. It’s admittedly all a bit excessive, however entertaining.
As talked about above, the protagonist, on this case, Jacob Pike, wants an equally decided antagonist to make this face-off satisfying. Identical to Alan Rickman helped to make Hans Gruber a timeless character in Die Onerous, there’s something very placing about G. Anthony Joseph’s Dr. Walsh. In comparison with a lot of the film’s sequences (that’s, the hero and his crew gathering intel in a suspicious place and shifting on), Walsh’s reintroduction causes the film to take a drastic flip.
Joseph’s tackle the villain is ideal, bringing forth a sinister anti-US sympathizer that may do no matter it takes to convey the nation to its knees. With out moments to even comprehend what you’re seeing, the character goes on a killing spree aboard the airplane, bringing an finish to characters you thought have been untouchable. That is the place President Down shines — on this remoted atmosphere with a chilly killer operating via the tight corridors and a helpless president at his whim.
In fact, actresses Gail O’Grady and Gina Vitori need to be given their flowers as properly. With out these girls, you wouldn’t consider the film you’re watching. O’Grady steps into the position of president with out lacking a step. One minute, she will play an honorable chief delivering a speech to a room filled with the press, and the subsequent, she will visually convey the hazard of the scenario by emphasizing the weak point in her chest. Vitori performs O’Grady’s daughter, the emotional hyperlink to all of this. Regardless that she does get some hits alongside the best way to help Jacob, Vitori positively brings a extra boots-on-the-ground perspective to all of this, which is refreshing to see.
President Down will not be the subsequent summer season blockbuster, however it’s positively a worthy watch for individuals who need to be transported again to a time when huge budgets weren’t wanted or when clichés weren’t likened to unhealthy storytelling. This can be a basic motion thriller for a modern-day fan of the style, and they’ll certainly get pleasure from this one. President Down is now out there to stream at no cost on Tubi.