No Good Deed Blu-ray Review

     Format: Blu-ray, Subtitled

Language: English

Subtitles: French

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony

Release Date: January 6, 2015

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2018

Run Time: 84 minutes

 

        The biggest crime of No Good Deed is simply how dull and unimaginative it manages to be with the simplistic plot. Sure, it is absurd how the film connects the storyline with a ridiculous twist at the end. Yes, the narrative is dominated by unimaginative violence and terror perpetrated against attractive women in peril. The plot is contrived, the characters one-dimensional, and the dialogue asinine, but it is the lack of imagination that truly irritated me.

 

        The basic home invasion thriller narrative is initiated by the escape of a convict in the suburbs of Atlanta. Colin (Idra Elba) is remarkably charming and appears in control of his emotions, but this quickly changes when the judge denies him parole. After escaping his prisoner convoy, Colin makes his way to the front door of Terri (Taraji P. Henson). Terri is a devoted wife and new mother to their second child, with the only thing missing from their happy home being her husband. With him away on a fishing trip with his father, Terri is left to fend for herself when Colin’s visit turns violent.

 

        It is unclear what Colin wants from Terri, though his violent history with women is a frightening indicator. While keeping his motivation unclear may have been a source of suspense for the film, instead it becomes a detail swept under the rug until a final twist is needed. All that is left within the film is a series of cat-and-mouse games between Colin and Terri. Except for a visit from Terri’s friend (Leslie Bibb) and a few other brief intruders, a majority of the running-time is just these two characters in a series of dull conversations and a stagnant storyline that repeatedly hits the same notes.

 

        The Blu-ray release of this unexciting thriller includes an unnecessary master in 4K, though there are only a few rainy shots within the cinematography that come close to making this worthwhile. The extras include a making-of featurette, as well as two additional featurettes that are exclusive to this Blu-ray disc release. Unfortunately, they are about as derivative as the film itself, and hardly serve as reason to upgrade beyond DVD.

 

Entertainment Value: 4.5/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 4/10

Historical Significance:  2.5/10

Special Features: 4/10