Sacrifice

Directed by Romain Gavras, Sacrifice follows armed terrorists, led by Anya Taylor-Joy’s Joan, as they take the guests, including Chris Evans’ Mike and Vincent Cassel’s Braken, hostage within an exclusive (and remote) gala. It’s promising subject matter that’s slowly-but-surely squandered by Gavras, which is a shame, ultimately, given that the picture kicks off with a compelling opening stretch peppered with amusing, exciting sequences – with the watchable vibe certainly heightened by Evans’ lighthearted turn as a goofy, pompous movie star. There’s little doubt, then, that Sacrifice’s descent into irrelevance is triggered by a stagnant, meandering midsection increasingly devoid of engaging attributes, as Gavras, armed with his and Will Arbery’s screenplay, seemingly (and essentially) runs out of ideas and compensates by offering up a series of pointless, padded-out interludes and digressions – with the who-cares-about-any-of-this vibe paving the way for a truly interminable third act. By the time the laughably unsatisfying climax rolls around, Sacrifice has cemented its place as a misguided and half-baked misfire that feels like it could (and should) have been so much better.

*1/2 out of ****