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Detective Knight: Independence Blu-ray Review

“Detective Knight: Independence” concludes the instantly forgettable trilogy. 

Written and directed by Edward Drake, “Detective Knight: Independence” is the third and final installment in this entirely forced trilogy. In this entry, a paramedic (Dezi) is fired from his job and decides to become a vigilante (or “Angel of Justice”) as he’s fed up with crime and a broken police system. Dezi’s big plan is to rob a bank on the 4th of July. Elsewhere in the story Detective James Knight tries to make amends with his daughter (Ally) who just might have ties to Dezi. 

Unless you found yourself enthralled by the first two films in this series, chances are you won’t be impressed by the final chapter of this Detective Knight saga (which barely includes the titular character I might add). For the most part, Edward Drake’s movie feels like an action vehicle that was built around Bruce Willis starring in it. It often feels written on the fly especially when it comes to the character of Dezi. Not only does his character arc feel half-assed, but around ⅔ of the movie simply involves him wandering around, rambling about his vague plan and motives, and watching a podcaster that inspires him to do whatever he is doing. Detective Knight really doesn’t have much to do aside from the shoehorned in subplot involving his daughter. 

As for the “action,” the inept action sequences are poorly staged and frequently feature atrocious CGI that resembles something out of “Birdemic.”

The cast is about the only thing this movie has going for it. Bruce Willis does the best he can with the title role and at least shows some personality (more than what’s on the page anyway). Jack Kilmer (who is starting to appear in more projects) gives a respectable performance despite being burdened with an undercooked character. It was nice to see Dina Meyer of “Starship Troopers” fame pop in one scene here with Bruce Willis. If only there were more scenes of the two together. Willow Shields (best known for “The Hunger Games” series) also shines as Knight’s daughter Ally.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. Grade: B+

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. Grade: B+

Extras:
* Digital copy
* “Detective Knight: Inspiration For The Knight”- Writer/director Edward Drake talks about the film, characters and cast over film clips.
* “Drawing Inspiration: Independence”- Edward Drake provides commentary over select scenes spanning around 22 minutes.

March 28, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Bruce Willis, Detective Knight, Detective Knight: Independence Blu-ray Review, Jack Kilmer