Siege (or Self-Defense) takes place during a historic period that you'd be forgiven for not remembering or even knowing about. Apparently, in 1981 the Nova Scotia police went on strike. As you can imagine, this kind of event serves as the basis for disorder and violence in this thriller. Sure enough, the urge to purge is real during one horrible Canadian night and its right-wing homophobes who have come out to play.
A gang of delinquent dumb dumbs enter a basement bar with the intent to bash and bully. No, these aren't the charming Proud Boys or even their more hardcore Hammerskin predecessors. These guys refer to themselves as New Order. They don't much resemble the synth-pop pioneers that emerged from the ashes of Joy Division, but oh well. During their bigoted boys night out, they call in their comrade specialist Cabe. This guy looks like he stepped out of a more sinister sci-fi mystery where he would never keep the company of such a hapless bunch. After arriving, he proceeds to execute all of the patrons and staff alike. The sole survivor escapes and takes shelter with a couple and their blind housemates, one of whom looks a lot like Finn Wolfhard. The New Orderlies proceed to lay siege to the apartment complex with military precision and the pieces are in place for a compelling game.
The Canuck creeps embody the all too familiar tropes of exploitation movie baddies in all their cackling glory. When one isn't digging into your soul with a thousand mile stare, another is letting out a high-pitched laugh that would make the Joker blush. Whether it's the tubby dead-eyed brute of the bunch or the reluctant pipsqueak tagalong, this is the kind of movie where we anxiously await how each of them will be dealt with. Unfortunately, the improvised nail-bomb launcher attached to a car battery is only good for one Canucklehead casualty. But don't worry, there's plenty more Home Alone meets Die Hard science experiments to go around.
If you're looking for entertaining exploitation with enough small surprises to keep you intrigued, this movie doesn't disappoint. Whether it's the appearance of a hunter's bow or awkward sound effects or ADR dialogue you certainly get what you tuned in for. If that's not enough to satisfy, this film is chockfull of one-liners.
"The h***-lovin' bastards got gas masks!" "Anyone who touches the doorknob downstairs is gonna die." There's even a "don't say we didn't warn ya!" No doubt that it could've been better, but it's more than acceptable for what it is. And if you don't like it, well, blame Canada.
A gang of delinquent dumb dumbs enter a basement bar with the intent to bash and bully. No, these aren't the charming Proud Boys or even their more hardcore Hammerskin predecessors. These guys refer to themselves as New Order. They don't much resemble the synth-pop pioneers that emerged from the ashes of Joy Division, but oh well. During their bigoted boys night out, they call in their comrade specialist Cabe. This guy looks like he stepped out of a more sinister sci-fi mystery where he would never keep the company of such a hapless bunch. After arriving, he proceeds to execute all of the patrons and staff alike. The sole survivor escapes and takes shelter with a couple and their blind housemates, one of whom looks a lot like Finn Wolfhard. The New Orderlies proceed to lay siege to the apartment complex with military precision and the pieces are in place for a compelling game.
The Canuck creeps embody the all too familiar tropes of exploitation movie baddies in all their cackling glory. When one isn't digging into your soul with a thousand mile stare, another is letting out a high-pitched laugh that would make the Joker blush. Whether it's the tubby dead-eyed brute of the bunch or the reluctant pipsqueak tagalong, this is the kind of movie where we anxiously await how each of them will be dealt with. Unfortunately, the improvised nail-bomb launcher attached to a car battery is only good for one Canucklehead casualty. But don't worry, there's plenty more Home Alone meets Die Hard science experiments to go around.
If you're looking for entertaining exploitation with enough small surprises to keep you intrigued, this movie doesn't disappoint. Whether it's the appearance of a hunter's bow or awkward sound effects or ADR dialogue you certainly get what you tuned in for. If that's not enough to satisfy, this film is chockfull of one-liners.
"The h***-lovin' bastards got gas masks!" "Anyone who touches the doorknob downstairs is gonna die." There's even a "don't say we didn't warn ya!" No doubt that it could've been better, but it's more than acceptable for what it is. And if you don't like it, well, blame Canada.