Once upon a time, two elite assassins fell in love. They wanted a normal life, to start a family and escape the chaos of covert missions. But the government wasn’t about to let them go that easily. So, they ran. But, as stories like this go, their violent past caught up to them.
Sound familiar? It should. This basic premise has been recycled in everything from Mr. & Mrs. Smith to The Family Plan to Back in Action, which dropped just a few months ago. Hollywood seems obsessed with the idea of secret agents trying to live normal suburban lives—changing diapers by day and dodging bullets by night. Unfortunately, “Shadow Force”, the newest addition to this well-worn subgenre, brings nothing new to the table. In fact, it might be one of the blandest versions we’ve seen yet.
A Great Team on Paper
It’s a bit surprising that Shadow Force turned out this flat, considering the talent behind it. The film is directed by Joe Carnahan, a name that once meant edgy, gritty action. Back in the early 2000s, he made waves with films like Narc and Smokin’ Aces, both known for their punchy direction and stylized grit. He even gave us The Grey, a survival thriller that’s still one of Liam Neeson’s best films.
But that was then. Carnahan has since taken a more comfortable route in network television, working on shows like The Blacklist. And Shadow Force feels like the result of that shift: a movie that plays more like a pilot episode of an NBC procedural than a feature film. Whatever spark Carnahan used to bring to his action sequences seems to have dimmed.
The Setup: Love, Guns, and Lionel Richie
The film kicks off with a quote that sounds like something Dominic Toretto from Fast & Furious might get tattooed across his chest:
“Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family.” – Paul Pearsall
Cue the entrance of Isaac, played by Omar Sy. He’s a devoted dad, taking care of his adorable (but slightly annoying) five-year-old son, Ky. They take baths together, learn French, and bond over cheesy 80s love songs—specifically Lionel Richie’s “Truly,” which Isaac listens to through his hearing aids.
Everything seems sweet and wholesome… until it’s not.
One day, while at the bank, a group of robbers storm in. Isaac calmly takes out his hearing aids, tells Ky to close his eyes, and then murders every single one of them with brutal efficiency. In case you were wondering, yes—Isaac used to be someone very dangerous.
Enter: The Shadow Force
Soon after, we get the backstory dump. Isaac wasn’t just anyone—he and his wife, Kyrah (played by Kerry Washington), were part of a covert ops squad called Shadow Force. The team was led by the now villainous Jack Cinder (Mark Strong, in yet another evil boss role he could do blindfolded).
Years ago, Isaac and Kyrah decided they’d had enough of the cloak-and-dagger life. But quitting Shadow Force wasn’t an option. So they ran. Kyrah went underground, tracking down and eliminating their old teammates one by one to protect their son.
Now, Jack Cinder is some sort of high-level international leader—think shady G7 secretary-general vibes—and wants all loose ends tied up. He sets his goons on the family and doubles the bounty on their heads (whatever that actually means in this context). And just like that, Isaac, Kyrah, and little Ky are back in the world of car chases, shootouts, and old allies turned enemies.
Confusion, Clunkiness, and Clichés
If that summary already sounds like a lot, the movie itself throws even more at the wall. The plot keeps jumping from one location to another like a hyperactive kid flipping through TV channels. New characters pop in and out without much explanation. There are betrayals, secret safehouses, long-lost allies, and twisty backstories—but none of it sticks.
The script, co-written by Carnahan and Leon Chills, feels disjointed and chaotic. It assumes you’ll care about characters you barely know and expects emotional payoffs for relationships it hasn’t spent time building. You’d think a film centered on a family fighting to survive would actually spend more time showing us their bond. Instead, we mostly get people yelling at each other while explosions go off in the background.
Some side characters show up, seem important for five minutes, then vanish again. The bad guys? There are plenty, but the film doesn’t bother to make us care about them—or even understand who’s who. Even Isaac and Kyrah’s former squadmates, who should’ve been formidable opponents, are wasted in one generic beach shootout.
No Chemistry, No Charm
A big problem with Shadow Force is that the central trio doesn’t quite click. Omar Sy is usually charismatic (check him out in the French Lupin series), but here he’s saddled with a dull script and no real emotional arc. Kerry Washington, who also produced the film, seems to lean hard into melodrama, giving lots of teary-eyed monologues about love and family. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t support her efforts.
And as for their kid, Ky… well, he’s supposed to be cute. But he ends up in so many life-or-death situations—including being tossed around in a high-speed car crash while locked in a trunk—that you start wondering why no one thought to just hide him at grandma’s for the weekend. The film clearly wants you to root for this adorable family, but without chemistry or a believable connection, the sentiment feels forced.
A Glimmer of Hope (and Humor)
The one area where the film almost works? The side characters. Specifically, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Method Man, who play two fellow operatives nicknamed Auntie and Unc. They show up with barely any context, but instantly steal every scene they’re in. Their banter is sharp, their jokes feel improvised, and they bring some much-needed energy to the screen.
In fact, watching them, you might find yourself thinking: Why didn’t we just get a spin-off about these two instead?
The Action’s Just… Fine?
At the very least, if Shadow Force had delivered memorable action scenes, it might’ve been worth recommending. Sadly, even here it drops the ball. Carnahan, once known for his tightly edited, gritty fight scenes, seems to be phoning it in. Most of the action is shot in dim lighting with choppy editing that makes it hard to follow what’s happening.
There is one halfway-decent sequence involving motorcycles, an armored car, and a fog-filled road that briefly perks things up. But it’s over too quickly, and we’re back to more bickering, more aimless running, and more slow-mo shots of Mark Strong looking stern.
Caught Between Two Tones
Perhaps the biggest issue with Shadow Force is that it can’t decide what kind of movie it wants to be. Is it a gritty, serious action thriller? Or a family-friendly dramedy about reconnecting with loved ones while dodging bullets?
It tries to be both—but ends up succeeding at neither. The sitcom-style family moments clash awkwardly with the darker action beats. One moment, characters are making wisecracks about bath time; the next, someone’s getting stabbed in the throat. The tonal whiplash is real, and it makes the movie hard to connect with emotionally or enjoy as pure spectacle.
Final Verdict: Shadow of a Movie
All in all, Shadow Force is a frustrating experience—not because it’s the worst movie ever made, but because it had the potential to be so much more. With a talented director, strong leads, and a premise that could’ve mixed The Incredibles with John Wick, it should have been a hit.
Instead, it’s just another forgettable entry in a crowded genre. A film filled with clichés, clunky dialogue, wasted talent, and barely any reason to care. The few bright spots—Omar Sy’s charisma, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Method Man’s comic relief—aren’t enough to save it from mediocrity.
If you’re really craving a story about spy parents fighting to protect their kid, you’re better off watching The Incredibles again. At least that one has charm, style, and characters you actually care about.
TL;DR:
Shadow Force wants to be a thrilling, heartfelt action movie about a family on the run, but it fumbles the story, wastes its cast, and delivers limp action. It’s got a few fun moments, but not nearly enough to make up for how dull and scattershot everything else feels.
