Netflix’s The Old Guard is a good example of high concept movies done right. Although recent attempts such as The Gemini Man have fallen short, The Old Guard manages to build and deliver a narrative around the story’s central premise, weaving both characterization and action around it.
Adapted from a graphic novel written by Greg Rucka (who also wrote the screenplay) and drawn by Leandro Fernandez, the film follows a group of mercenaries who also happen to be immortal. Their leader, Andy (Charlize Theron) has become jaded and bitter, frustrated by the world’s dire state despite her working to better it for thousands of years. Her group soon gets baited into an ambush planned by a CIA agent Copley (Chiwetel Eijofor) and a greedy pharmaceutical executive Merrick (Harry Melling), and then they are hunted by the two, who hope to use them as guinea pigs to discover cures to a variety of medical conditions. At the same time, Andy has to deal with recruiting a new immortal, Nile (KiKi Layne), a marine who recovered miraculously after getting her throat slit during a mission.
The action is competent, often reminiscent of the stylish gunplay of the John Wick franchise, although the cinematographers don’t render the action set pieces with the signature flair and slickness you expect from a John Wick movie. The action scenes, while not spectacular, do highlight the resilience of Andy’s group, as they often charge headfirst into a battle, get gunned down and then get back up to dish some more damage. Their power adds a new twist to typical action fare, although at times it does take the tension out of the equation. The movie tries to compensate for this with an added complication for Andy emerging in the second act, adding a new sense of urgency to the fight scenes.
What elevates the film above other run-of-the-mill action flicks is its focus on the characters and what they are going through.
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood frames the characters as strong but vulnerable, often doubting their resolve. The camera often rests on the characters as they reminisce about the past and their losses. The dynamic between Andy and Nile is developed over the course of the first act, with Andy unsure of her purpose and Nile grasping to understand her new circumstances, swinging between fear and uncertainty.
Charlize Theron handles her duties well, with her prowess as an action lead certified in Mad Max: Fury Road and further cemented in Atomic Blonde. The others in the group, such as the melancholic Booker and the lovers Nick and Joe are also given small moments of their own, such as when a captive Nick professes his love to Joe in flowery, sincere terms.
Not all is perfect with the film. The soundtrack is often distracting instead of immersive, and the film is shot like a generic action movie, which is a shame since the graphic novel has a distinct art style.
While the film does lay the ground for sequels, as a whole it feels like a proof of concept for Netflix that it can pull off decent action flicks on a consistent basis. After the success of Extraction, The Old Guard is another step in the right direction. It doesn’t have the baggage that superhero flicks from Marvel or DC usually have, although one gets the impression that the story would have benefited from being adapted into a TV series than a movie.
Aside from the modern setting, there’s also the option of doing historical anthologies in the vein of Assassin’s Creed. Whichever direction it takes, let’s hope the sequel builds on the foundations laid by this film and explores both the characters and the wider world inhabited by them.