Driven to Kill (2009)

I tend to be captivated by films that revolve around revenge. Though predictable and patterned after clichés and archetypal situations, these stories are filled with action and pulse-pounding tension.

All of this is captured in Driven to Kill, another film that bears the unmistakable stamp of the tireless Steven Seagal.

This time, Seagal plays Ruslan, an intriguing novelist who must temporarily put aside his literary craft to pursue tasks that are, frankly, much more in keeping with his nature.

The plot plunges us into a thrilling world of betrayal, score-settling and cross-revenge, where Ruslan must call upon his lethal skills to survive and restore order after a grisly string of murders unleash a relentless spiral of violence.

Through unexpected twists and turns and electrifying action sequences, the film keeps us on the edge of our seats as Seagal deploys his trademark hard-hitting martial arts arsenal to bring his enemies to their knees with his usual stoicism and murderous coolness.

Unlike many of the actor's other films, this instalment has a more substantial plot, though it takes a while for the action to gather momentum. When it finally does, however, it does not disappoint and manages to entertain.

While the action scenes will not be noted for their impeccable filmmaking, the film does falter somewhat in that regard, but nothing alarming or over the top.

All in all, it's more than adequate entertainment to keep you entertained, as is often the case with Seagal's films. It does not disappoint the expectations of its fans in terms of adrenaline and martial spectacle.