Red Stone is a predictable thriller that manages to be enjoyable in spite of itself. The plot follows a hitman named Boon (Neal McDonough) who is tasked to track down a boy named Motley Adams (Dash Melrose). It turns out that Jed Haywood (Michael Cudlitz) ordered the killing of Motley’s brother Danny and wants the ruby that was in his possession. Boon must now find the boy and the stone.
It should come as no surprise that Boon is dealing with personal issues that have him questioning his new assignment. Red Stone does not work hard to try to surprise the audience. There are the near escapes, the frustratingly inept henchmen, and the change of heart from the remorseless killer.
All told, it makes Red Stone a struggle to get through at times. Even the acting does not completely save the movie. There are some nice moments here and there, but nothing stands out and no one is particularly memorable.
The film ends up working thanks to its willingness to embrace the genre. There is a comfort in knowing what is coming, and while too much predictability can make things boring, the right amount can still be watchable. Red Stone is able to meet this standard, if just barely.
The story will never catch anyone off-guard, and Red Stone definitely has a problem with repetitiveness, but there are enough fight scenes and tension charged moments to keep things interesting. The film never quite connects on the emotional level it seems to be aiming for, but it will also prevent audiences from walking away.
Red Stone releases in select theaters and VOD December 3
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