Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, “Muzzle” is an action-packed thriller that provides viewers with exceptional insight, all through the eyes of LAPD K-9 officer Jake Rosser. Everything starts with the tragic death of Ace, Jake’s loyal dog. While on patrol in Skid Row, Ace gets shot and needless to say, it becomes tragic. This, as expected, turns into a hunting quest for Jake, turning him into relentless detective with thirst for truth behind Ace’s death, all the while pushing through the corruption and masking crime present in the city.
The investigation reveals the multifaceted nature of the city’s corruption and crime, showcasing how deep this conspiracy runs. As Jake survives and progresses through the investigation, it forces him to combat his own demons alongside the social systemic issues that are present in the city. Alongside Socks, Jake’s new and mysterious K-9 partner, his wish for revenge gets contorted into a path for self redemption.
Cast & Crew:
Aaron Eckhart as Jake Rosser: Eckhart delivers a chilling performance as an officer driven to pure insanity, with nothing but a thirst for justice.
Penelope Mitchell as Mia: Mitchell exhibits a gentle and caring nurse who unexpectedly assists Jake during his turmoil filled journey.
Diego Tinoco as Hernandez: Tinoco plays a young officer who finds himself in the midst of many complex layers throughout the investigation.
Stephen Lang as Leland: Leland is well-rounded in the depiction of a veteran in the crime world, as Lang executes ganz well with the character.
Spearheaded by John Stalberg Jr in his first attempt at film making, and along his work on ‘Crypto’, he goes onto to co-write along Carlyle Eubank. This very particular collaboration weaves the initial quest for revenge tightly to the larger picture.
Themes and Analysis:
Bereavement and Excessive Loyalties
Jake plunges deep into an abyss of vengeance after his canine partner passes away, only serving justice at his hands. It displays the borderline dividing seeking for justice and becoming a vigilante.
Deceit and Ambivalence:
Visibility when it comes to corruption in the city’s institutions is always present making the protagonist question their moral compass and decision-making skills.
Bond Between Species:
Themes relating to loyalty, friendship, and deep-rooted connections that transcend species are perfectly highlighted even through the bond that Jake shares with his K9 counterparts.
Amends and Unfamiliar Paths:
In the throes of chaos seeking for amends while also matching oneself with the past becomes hard but through his effort, Jake is able to learn and grow.
Cinematography and Direction:
This film employs a very bleak visual style in its portrayal of the underbelly of Los Angeles, capturing its negative essence. The muted colors used by the cinematographer, Pieter Vermeer, highlight the protagonist’s inner disturbances as well as the rot in the city. The audience can be made to feel Jake’s relentless pursuit through the close ups and active movement and Jacques Stalberg Jr, the director is successful in creating this effect.
Critical Reception:
Muzzle has been described as a contentious film and has therefore received mixed reviews. For Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has an approval average of 36% and rates an average of 5.3 on a rating scale of 1-10 for 11 users.
Sheila O’Malley from RogerEbert.com has rated the movie to only 1 and a half stars, claiming the components of the movie while interesting do not have meaningful significance.
Audience Reception:
Most viewers seem to criticize the pacing of the movie along with the relationship development between supporting character but praised Eckhart’s acting along with the intense sequences and action scenes. The bond shown between Jake and his dog’s on the other hand, resonated well with the audience and added to the emotional context of the thriller.
Box Office Performance:
Muzzle accumulated 7807 dollars as it only saw a limited release in theaters.
Mostly action movie lovers are the audience of the film, which the film found on digital platforms.
Sequel Announcement:
On the thirteenth day of the fifth month of the year two thousand and twenty four, it was confirmed that a sequel would be released under the name “Muzzle: City of Wolves” with the date for said sequel being 2020 and that Aaron Eckhart would be playing Jake Rosser once again. Stalberg would also return to carry out his executive directing role. The sequel in question would focus on Jake Rosser where he hopes to live his life in peace with his family and dog only for them to be targeted and attacked by a cold-hearted gang forcing him to enter the underbelly of the city in search of revenge in order to protect his family.
Conclusion:
When looking for a movie to watch which focuses on themes such as loss, vengeance, and redemption, Muzzle always comes on top even if the action thriller genre doesn’t have anything particularly special to offer Eckhart is able to execute his role perfectly allowing the viewer to understand the bond between Eckhart and his dog Socks. Along with that, the great story and true events behind Muzzle allow the viewer to step into the shoes of Jake Rosser and truly think about how revenge would feel like.
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