Taking a different kind of look at a drug cartel Mexican style, the crime action film Misfire has an interesting storyline. Now on DVD the movie plays well in the home theater. Not the finest film I’ve seen about DEA agents, but once the action gets rolling it does entertain. If you like “The Bridge” on TV or even the movie Traffic, then Misfire should be a good rental for you.
It’s Juarez, Mexico and Johnny (Michael Greco), a D.E.A. agent, tracks down the whereabouts of a drug dealer and chases him. Getting him cornered he kills the suspect in self defense only to find out he is an undercover cop. Johnny goes on a drinking binge and passes out. He wakes up the next morning to find his room covered in blood and his reporter wife Sarah (Patricia Peinado Cruz) missing. Going into the kitchen he see the maid Maria looking at him just when the police arrive to arrest him.
He calls his brother Cole (Gary Daniels) in LA, an ex-D.E.A. agent, to come down to Mexico to help him get out of jail and find Sarah. Gracie (Vannessa Vasquez), a photo journalist for the same newspaper and friend of Sarah shows up at Cole’s place wanting to help. She tells him Sarah was writing a story about a drug cartel run by Raul Montenegro (Luis Gatica). She also tells Cole that Sarah had bearer bonds worth millions in her possession.
When Cole and Gracie team up to find Sarah things start to heat up for Montenegro. Director R. Ellis Frazier puts his actors to work chasing down the drug financier and uncovering clues to find Sarah. He adds Raul’s son Ceasar (Fabian Lopez) into the mix as the leader of his hit squad creating several shootouts that keep the film exciting. This plus some mystery and suspense surrounding the whereabouts of Sarah and later his brother Johnny, help to make the movie interesting.
Unfortunately the acting is very weak, the camera work not very good and the direction loses its grip during the last 30 minutes of the film. Since it’s an action film however, reciting dialogue and going through the motions for each of the characters should not affect the entertainment value too much.
Misfire has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains violence and language. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are inappropriate for adolescents. The film has some subtitles to add the Hispanic flavor of Mexico to the movie.
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Gary Daniels, Vannessa Vasquez, Michael Greco, Patricia Peinado Cruz, Justin Nesbitt, Luis Gatica and Fabian Lopez
Director: R. Ellis Frazier
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Genre: Action, Crime
Running Time: 1 hr 29 min
Video Release Date: October 21, 2014
Language: English
Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Aspect Ratio 2.40:1, Widescreen
Subtitles: None
Number of Discs: 1 disc
Distributed by: RJL Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
