Rampage : Review

Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Fate of the Furious), a primatologist who prefers the company of animals to that of humans. He has a close bond to George, an albini silverback gorilla whom he rescued from poachers when George was very young. Soon after we are introduced to Davis and George, a genetic experiment on-board the International Space Station goes horribly awry, with samples of this creation falling back to Earth, and not only transforming gentle George into a raging monster, but also infecting a wolf and a crododile. Soon after these events, that kick off the story of Rampage, Davis has a chance encounter with Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris – Spectre, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom). Now, together with Kate, Davis must prevent a global catastrophe, and save his friend George.

Rampage is an action, adventure film designed for pure escape. Don’t expect long monologues, or dramatic artistic performances. This film is all about having fun, suspension of disbelief, and tagging along on an adrenaline filled ride.

That aside though, the leads can act, Johnson and Harris are talented. George is funny, despite his gargantuan size. The film realises exactly what it is, and runs with that though, without being farcical, or camp.

With a straightforward plot, there are few viewers who should find themselves lost, as the films plot has few twists as it rolls along. Pacing is just right, with a brief introduction to each for character development, a very quick establishing of setting and the films world, and then straight into the action of the story. On the cinematic scale of things, the effects and CG are great, with creatures and locations totally believable, and creating a convincing story, albeit one that is totally fictitious.

Ramage is one of those films that allows a viewer to live in another world for a short period, and is certainly a film to go see for some well deserved stress relief and escapism.

Rampage opens in South African cinemas on 13 April 2018.

Read more on the story of Rampage, from Warner Brothers, on SAMDB.

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By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb