When an undercover agent arrives in a small town, the local cops become involved him a case with him that unfolds unexpectedly.
Bad Man will be available on Digital Download from 22nd September, 2025.
Written by Michael Diliberty and JJ Nelson with the former also directing, the film here has some solid ideas but the execution is just not on point. The story isn’t bad, but it feels too familiar and is quite predictable. While this can be turned into an entertaining film, here it becomes a bit repetitive without really repeating itself. It feels like a half-baked scripted that was filled in like a pain-by-numbers action crime thriller (comedy too?). It’s not bad, but it’s also not great and it seems like most of the fault here is in the script and the direction. The comedy doesn’t really shine and feels out of place most of the time, most of the characters are pretty bland, and how everything moves along is just meh, for lack of an actual word. The film isn’t exactly good, but it’s not bad-bad either, thus making writing this review difficult as everything here is just ok.
The cast here is trying but something feels off in most of the performances, giving the cast roles that seem half-planned and half-developed, forcing them to create characters out of very little. The cast seems to be doing their best, but it all does not come together right. Watching this as a fan of Seann William Scott in action films/thrillers (see The Wrath of Becky) or as a fan of his action-comedies (see Goon) is a disappointment but one that doesn’t lay at his feet as the main issues seem to be in the writing and direction given that the rest of the cast is also not at their best. Also, side note, that beard looks off, like something is wrong with it, perhaps it’s a lighting issue or a dyeing issue? The rest of the cast will likely be less noticed even if they have somewhat known names, but their roles all feel unfinished. Doing decently well here and stealing a few scenes is Chance Perdomo who does his best to make this film work. Rob Riggle, Johnny Simmons, and Kaitlin Doubleday bring in what they can, but something feels off with each of their performances.
When the story is one that the viewer doesn’t feel strongly one way or the other, they will end up looking more closely at the other aspects of the film like the music by Andrew Orkin which feels very in line with the story, just kind of there. The cinematography by Garrett O’Brien on the other hand has its moments. It’s not perfect and some of it is super basic with just the expected shots and expected lighting, but here and there, the cinematography helps elevate the film a bit with some great shots, some careful framing, and good use of light, so it becomes a highlight of the film.
Bad Man is not bad, not good, just kind of there, reminding us that the better-known members of the cast are capable of so much more. This is a film most will go into looking for a fun, entertaining action comedy while hoping to enjoy their experience and then come out the other end whelmed, not underwhelmed, not overwhelmed, just whelmed, just meh. It’s not bad, it’s not good, but it exists and created jobs along the way.