Wages of Fear is actually a remake of a 1953 film sporting the same name. It’s about a group of people on a mission to save a camp of refugees. They have to transport 200 kilos of Nitro-glycerine to an oilwell near the refugee camp, which is extremely dangerous given Nitro-glycerine is highly explosive. If you’re a fan of the original movie, you’ll be greatly disappointed with the remake. You’ll be wishing that director Julien Leclercq had put more effort into honouring the classic.
While the movie as a whole might not be that great, there are a few action scenes that do stand out and make it more watchable. One is a flashback involving Fred and Alex, and another is a hand-to-hand combat scene with Alex in prison. These scenes are well-placed in an otherwise weak storyline, adding little excitement.
One thing that doesn’t work well in the movie is the use of location. Even though the movie is set in Morocco, the terrain is not really used to its full potential. The lack of rough terrain means that the danger from the Nitro-glycerine is minimal, which could have been used to create more suspenseful moments. The location is only really used towards the end of the movie when it could have been used more throughout to create more thrilling sequences.
The character development is pretty much non-existent too. Take Clara, for example. She’s introduced as a kind doctor who runs an NGO for a refugee camp. Right from the start, she seems a bit desperate. She agrees to the mission of the Oil company to save the refugees’ lives. Throughout the movie, she’s really affected by the deaths of her friends. You’d expect her to become emotionally stronger and braver as the story unfolds, especially in some action scenes, but unfortunately, her character doesn’t really evolve much and ends up feeling pointless to the plot.
Fred and Alex’s characters are also quite plain. Fred is motivated by guilt and greed from start to finish, including in the climax. Alex, on the other hand, is mostly just angry and focused on his issues with his brother Fred, as well as his romantic interest. While they do resolve their differences halfway through the movie, their reunion doesn’t really leave a strong impact.
The movie is supposed to be an action thriller, but it completely lacks the thrill. The danger of Nitro-glycerine is not used effectively either and although the terrain looks rocky and mountainous from afar, there are no obstacles like bumps, pits, or rocks during the journey. Although the crew is occasionally fired at, none of the bullets ever hit the Nitro-glycerine; they always miss by a hair. Simply put, the creators miss a big opportunity to use this and the location to render the movie more exciting and watchable.
The movie tries to update the 1953 classic but falls short. The acting is okay, but the story doesn’t try hard enough to be an exciting thriller. It lacks thrilling moments and doesn’t make you feel for the characters. It’s not worth your time, especially if you’re a fan of the original.
Feel free to check out more of our movie reviews here!
-
Verdict - 4/10
4/10