In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. A man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.
Stunts
Gun-kata: fictional martial art that's absolutely ridiculous and absolutely rules.
Production
Minimalist fascist chic architecture on a shoestring budget.
Acting
Bale's dead-eyed emptiness slowly cracking open is genuinely compelling.
Director
Kurt Wimmer
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The gun-kata was invented by director Kurt Wimmer, who studied martial arts to create a fictional fighting style based on statistical probability of enemy positions.
Released one year after 9/11, its themes of sacrificing liberty for security felt uncomfortably prescient and likely contributed to its cult following despite bombing at the box office.
US
