While many films stand the test of time, others fade into obscurity. Whether this happens over a period of years or almost instantly upon a film’s release, one thing is clear: Snitch has slipped through the cracks of our collective memory to join the ranks of the Films That Time Forgot.
2013 saw Dwayne Johnson continue to climb his way to the top of Hollywood’s A-list with a starring role in Snitch, a hard-boiled action thriller about a father attempting to save his son. The movie follows John Matthews (Johnson), the owner of a successful construction company, who goes undercover for the DEA in order to help his son, who was arrested after being implicated by a friend. Alongside Johnson, the movie features Jon Bernthal, Susan Sarandon, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Benjamin Bratt.
The film’s premise revolves around a legal premise that sounds flagrantly illegal. It sees a young man set up by a friend, and then pressured into implicating other innocent people in order to save his own skin. When he refuses, his father then steps in to topple an entire cartel in order to free his son.
Just over a decade after its release, Snitch has passed into complete obscurity. Mixed to negative reviews did nothing to help the film’s reputation, but its star-studded should perhaps have afforded it more widespread appeal. For better or worse, the film simply failed to make much of an impact.
Snitch Is An Implausible But Entertaining Movie With Very Little Depth
Admittedly, it’s incredibly difficult to get past Snitch‘s ludicrous premise. The entire plot revolves around an idea so ridiculous that it’s not easy to suspend disbelief long enough to become truly invested. Even so, once its protagonist becomes inextricably tangled in a web of drug dealers and smugglers, tension begins to build.
This tension carries Snitch through its shakier elements. Competent performances from its stars help keep the film afloat, and a handful of well-executed action sequences keep it entertaining. Even so, very little about the movie stands out.
It’s an entertaining movie in a general sense, but it’s incredibly short on depth and plausibility. There’s nothing remarkable about the movie, and despite a handful of good performances, it’s not enough to make it resonate on any considerable level. There’s nothing actively bad about the movie, but there’s also not a huge amount to make it particularly memorable.
Rating: 50%
Summary: Snitch isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s not especially bad. It’s an average movie with a fairly silly premise that’s just about good for killing a couple of hours.
Highlight: Jon Bernthal and Michael K. Williams are used sparingly, but their intensity makes for one of the movie’s most powerful action sequences.