The Equalizer 3

Be prepared. More violent than John Wick: Chapter 4.

A film of intense violence that is saved by beautiful Italian scenery and wonderful acting. Denzel Washington returns as Robert McCall, a former government killer now living in Italy. His desire for comfort is destroyed when he is forced to help a community that a dangerous, ruthless drug organization seeks to control.

It is impossible to describe the large number of dead bodies that continually fill the screen. Like Keanu Reeves in the John Wick films, director Antoine Fuqua has Washington repeatedly dispose of a large number of enemies without suffering any injuries.

At times Washington’s McCall lacks any sense of excitement or fear. You can almost hear him thinking, “Alright, Alright, I’ll kill a few of these S.O.B.s but let me finish my tea.”

There are a number of supporting actors who are very good in small roles. Dakota Fanning plays a CIA Agent lured from her desk by a call from McCall. Eugenio Mastrandrea holds you attention as a local cop trying to save his wife and son. And Andrea Dodero is unforgettable as Marco, a local gang leader with no conscience.

But as noted earlier, what adds some cinematic majesty to this “kill or be killed” movie is the magnificent Italian landscape. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Sicily, the Amalfi coast and Naples where this movie is filmed. Frequently director Fuqua adds some emotional pleasure to Equalizer 3 by focusing on the beauty and romance of this part of Italy with the use of cinematic shots from overhead.

This makes this film worth seeing on that basis alone.