Black Site ★★

DURING 2022 the Australian film industry benefitted to a degree from our physical isolation.

While countries like the United States were struggling to emerge from the Covid pandemic, Australia had an easier hill to climb.

That meant some US films could still be made on our shores. It was great for employment opportunities, but most of the films were second-rate.

Despite having the likes of Michelle Monaghan, Jason Clarke and Jai Courtney in its cast, the American action-thriller Black Site is one of those.

Directed by Sophia Banks and written by Jinder Ho, it has some interesting ideas and a few good gory moments but is hampered by poor sets and visual effects and an otherwise pedestrian script.

Michelle Monaghan is an under-rated actress, partly because her choice of roles isn’t always the best, but here she doesn’t convince as an action hero.

The best aspect of the film is Jason Clarke’s vicious bad guy, but he isn’t given much to do other than enjoy killing people.

At least they all would have enjoyed their time in Byron Bay.

Watched on Netflix.