Hunting Jessica Brok: A South African action heroine that makes Hollywood blush

At the beginning of the film, Danica Jones’ performance wasn’t the strongest for me, but she eventually finds her rhythm and delivers believable acting for the rest of the movie. Richard Lukunku and Hlubi Mboya (who plays Lazar’s girlfriend Sherri) are two actors whose performances truly impressed me. Both were perfect for their roles and definitely carry the film’s storyline.

Hunting Jessica Brok is miles better than many Hollywood productions of the same kind — especially if you’ve seen some of Bruce Willis’ last films, which can truly be considered trash. In contrast, director Alastair Orr’s film features action-packed elements that work from beginning to end — from explosions to “de-capitations”. It’s a 110% “kick, shoot, and thunder” story with more blood and bite than I’ve seen in a long time. The violence may deter some viewers, but it’s no more than what we’re used to in modern Hollywood action films. The cinematography, editing, and mood-setting music were excellent, while the visual effects (VFX), special effects (SFX) artists, fight choreographers, and stunt coordinators deserve special applause. They give their Hollywood counterparts serious competition.

What bothered me a bit while watching the film were the strange accents some characters had. I suspect they were meant to sound Eastern European, but they were not convincing at all. Along with that, the character of Daniel Connor (played by Clyde Berning) had more lives than a cat — this was somewhat far-fetched and made me wonder each time whether I was watching an action film or a horror movie (although fitting for Halloween, when I watched it).

According to Orr, the questions he poses to you as director are: “Can a person run away from who you were?” and “What happens when the world forces you to become a darker version of yourself?” At the end of the day it’s actually a universal question: When it comes to a life-threatening situation, what will you do to protect yourself and your loved ones? Watch Hunting Jessica Brok and you might just find the answer.