MOVIE REVIEW – It’s a universal nightmare: what if someone you loved was taken from you in an act of senseless violence—would you just accept it, or fight back? Most of us lack the tools or the access to pursue justice ourselves. But what if you had both? That’s the unsettling premise behind The Amateur.

Directed by James Hawes, The Amateur follows a brilliant CIA codebreaker whose quiet life is torn apart by personal tragedy, forcing him into the shadowy world of vengeance. While it’s more slow-burn thriller than high-octane spectacle, the film thrives on tense atmosphere, strong performances, and a few creative narrative twists—even if some of them strain credibility.

The story centers on Charles Heller (Rami Malek), a soft-spoken cryptographer whose wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), is killed in a terrorist attack in London. Devastated by the CIA’s reluctance to respond meaningfully, Heller takes matters into his own hands, blackmailing the agency into training him so he can hunt down those responsible. As he transforms from analyst to field agent, he’s pursued by the very people who trained him: Deputy Director Alex Moore (Holt McCallany) and mentor Robert Henderson (Laurence Fishburne).

Malek’s Grief, Grit, and a Pinch of Implausibility

What sets The Amateur apart is its protagonist. Heller isn’t a secret weapon or elite operative—he’s a civilian whose expertise lies in algorithms, not firearms. Watching him bumble through basic training or miss targets with a gun adds unexpected realism, grounding the film in something grittier than your average revenge fantasy. The film plays with this vulnerability, letting Heller find roundabout and sometimes brilliantly indirect ways to strike back. At its best, the film evokes the clever fatalism of Final Destination, only here, Death is a grieving husband with a plan.

This detour from genre expectations is what makes the movie intriguing. Don’t expect Heller to suddenly become Ethan Hunt; instead, the film explores the psychological and logistical toll of vengeance when pursued by someone clearly out of their depth. It’s a fresh angle in a genre often bogged down by bulletproof clichés.

A Cast That Delivers, Even When the Script Wobbles

Rami Malek grounds the film with a layered, deeply human performance. He perfectly conveys Heller’s inner fracture—his intellect, sorrow, and misplaced determination. Rachel Brosnahan makes the most of limited screen time, radiating warmth that lingers long after her character’s fate is sealed. The film smartly keeps her presence alive through memory and motif. Laurence Fishburne is a magnetic presence, bringing weight and danger to a role that could have easily become background noise. The film knows how to use its ensemble, creating emotional stakes without losing its momentum.

The most debatable element of The Amateur lies in its narrative shortcuts. Certain discoveries happen with eyebrow-raising ease, particularly when Heller uncovers information that happens to tie directly to the terrorists behind Sarah’s death. It’s the kind of coincidence that feels written rather than earned, and it nudges the story out of plausibility just a bit. Add to that the way Sarah becomes the target, and it begins to feel more constructed than organic. Still, these are nitpicks in a film that mostly succeeds at immersing the viewer in its world.

Unexpectedly Reflective, But Still Satisfying

The Amateur won’t quench the thirst of viewers expecting wall-to-wall action, but what it offers is richer: a story that explores revenge through intellect, not invincibility. While not as radical a subversion as, say, Pig—that poetic tale of grief masquerading as a revenge flick—the film slows down the genre just enough to make room for emotion and originality. Malek excels as the awkward avenger, and although Fishburne is somewhat underutilized, he owns every second on screen. The highlights? When Heller leans into his unconventional talents to trap, trick, and topple his enemies. It’s a revenge story with just enough punch and brains to keep you locked in. Not flawless, but certainly worthwhile.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector”-