Screen narratives of certain types can prove challenging when attempted on limited means, and "Alarum" is a prime example of this struggle. It depicts Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald as ex-spies trying to live a normal life but haunted by their past. The film attempts to make up for unspectacular production values with lots of action, but the execution is mediocre.
The narrative starts in 2019 Prague where characters Joe (Eastwood) and Lara (Fitzgerald) stage a brawl to escape their spy careers. Now married five years later, their past catches up with them on a honeymoon when they're suspected of possessing a coveted flash drive, leading to a chase and fight sequence.
Despite featuring Sylvester Stallone as a former colleague and a complex plot attempting to intertwine allegiances and motives, the film falls short in engaging the audience. There's little connection with the characters, and their supposed importance in the global intelligence network is never convincingly established.
Director Michael Polish squanders the potential of the lead actors by separating them for most of the runtime. The fight scenes fail to achieve the intensity of action films like the "Bourne" series or the "Rambo" series. Adding to the disappointment is the lackluster VFX work and a script that doesn't let actors explore their full potential.
The film's setting in rural Ohio substituting for rural Poland does provide some entertainment, but it lacks the suspense and wit required to fully draw in the audience. Overall, "Alarum" is a watchable but forgettable genre exercise seeking to highlight international espionage but failing to do so convincingly. The film is set to release in the U.S. theaters, digital, and On-Demand platforms on January 17th.
