The storyline for Seeking Justice reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Strangers on a Train, or the subsequent comedic remake, Throw Mama From the Train. It brings up an interesting concept in the natural tendency to long for revenge when someone we love is wronged, and provides a scenario which makes this vengeance nearly foolproof. What if we weren’t the ones to kill our enemies, but instead had a stranger do it for us while stuck in an airtight alibi? And what would be required in return for such a deal to be made.
Nicholas Cage stars somewhat unconvincingly as an ordinary man named Will Gerard, who is happily married to Laura (January Jones of TVs “Mad Men”). He is a nonviolent school teacher whose world is turned upside down when Laura is brutally attacked on her way home one night. Approached by a stranger named Simon (Guy Pearce) in the hospital waiting room, Will is offered the chance to make the attacker pay outside of the confines of the law. Simon informs Will that the only thing he needs to do in order to make this happen is promise a favor in the future. What Will doesn’t realize is how drastic of a favor will be asked of him when the time comes.
Seeking Justice weaves together the workings of an underground vigilant group, one in which anybody and everybody is a possible member. Instead of participating, Will remains morally rigid to his beliefs, despite having given the okay for another man to be killed for his crimes. This double-standard is never fully addressed, because this is a suspense film and we are to automatically take sides with our protagonist and his morality choices. The real point of the film is his ability to remain one step ahead of a secret group which has an unknown number of members within his city.
The Blu-ray is not spectacularly impressive, either in terms of visual improvement or bonus features. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette.
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