Review: The Old Guard

The Old Guard, based on the graphic novel of the same name, follows four undying warriors led by Andy (Charlize Theron). For centuries they have gone unnoticed as they used their gift to save humanity. Now, as a new member emerges, they have to fight to keep their age-old secret. 

By bringing in the new immortal Nile (Kiki Layne), you learn the mythology behind The Old Guard. These Four mercenaries have lived hundreds of years, so long some can’t remember how old they are.

And although they are immortal, you find out at some point they lose that immortality. It’s a clever way to up the ante in a film where your leads can’t die. The longer they take to heal, the closer you get to the edge of your seat.

The stakes grow higher as a pharmaceutical company learns about their unnaturally long life. The leader Merrick (Harry Melling), begins to hunt them down to find the source of their immortality.

It’s an intriguing premise that has enough history to spawn more films, which I’m sure is the plan. That being said, this is a movie that has a lot of story that has to be told in a short amount of time. It is done well, but sometimes feels rushed.

Even though there is a lot of exposition, the film is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end. From the first few moments, you are enamored by this world, and you feel an instant attachment to these characters.

Especially by Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli). They are an openly gay couple who have been together for centuries. These two characters have such a strong relationship, and this film doesn’t shy away from showing that. It was so lovely to see that representation in an action movie. In fact, representation is littered throughout the entire film from sexuality, strong women, and people of color.

Charlize Theron is just excellent in this film. She’s a chameleon that can hop from one genre to the next without blinking an eye. When you put Charlize Theron at the forefront of an action movie, you know you’re in for a ride because she brings humanity to the hero she is playing.

Kiki Layne is another standout. She brings an innocence to the character. And she holds her own against Theron. I can’t wait to see how much stronger her character gets if there is a sequel.

The Old Guard does have a few bumps along the way, mostly because there is still a lot of unanswered questions. But as I said before, Netflix is probably hoping to smooth out those bumps with a franchise. There are a few plot points that may have you groaning. And the effects could have been a little better, but they are not terrible. Some look a little weird, but not enough to take you out of the movie or moment. 

The action scenes, especially the ones where the core four are fighting together, are a blast to watch. Every sequence is expertly choreographed to show how well these four friends know each other. They use their history and fighting styles they’ve learned throughout time to their advantage. It’s one of the coolest things about the movie. 

In conclusion, The Old Guard is worth a watch if you’re a fan of comic books and action movies. The story is exciting but unfinished. You may feel a little unsatisfied, but you won’t regret the time spent with it. 

Stream The Old Guard July 10th on Netflix.