Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant CIA analyst working in decryption and surveillance, living a seemingly perfect life with his wife Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan). Their idyllic life is disrupted when Sarah is killed by terrorists during a business trip to London, prompting Charlie to seek brutal revenge, stepping out of his norm.

Looking back, the appeal of the revenge film genre often hinges upon the raw, law-bending, and anti-social tendencies of its protagonists, such as Charles Bronson's character in "Death Wish". "The Amateur", contrary to its predecessors, gives us a protagonist who is neither violent nor adept at physical confrontations. Amidst his worldwide hunt for the killers, Charlie remains a planner and a hacker, rather than morphing into a conventional action hero.

Directed by James Hawes, known for his work on "Doctor Who", the film is punctuated with twists that are more thrown than earned. Charlie unveils an Agency coverup of a drone attack that killed 1,000 civilians, triggers explosive traps, and even threatens to blackmail the CIA. Despite intense training from a veteran agency operative (Lawrence Fishburne), Charlie never truly fits into the typical action hero mold.

"The Amateur" blends elements from films like "Bourne", "Death Wish", "Munich", and others into a spy adventure tale set against a backdrop of technological prowess. Yet, it fails to fully capture the raw essence of a revenge-seeking vigilante or an the undercover thriller.

Still, Rami Malek’s performance as Charlie Heller is worth the watch. His intensity shines through his character's relentless pursuit of vengeance. Exploring a new perspective in the revenge thriller genre, "The Amateur" presents an interesting concept, even if not perfectly executed.