Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
In the midst of the Balkan wars, a squad of Navy SEALs attempts to unravel a long-forgotten mystery after discovering an enormous treasure trove hidden at the bottom of a lake in Serbia.
Renegades is a formulaic action-thriller that blends underwater treasure hunting with a war backdrop, but fails to distinguish itself in any meaningful way. The plot is derivative and predictable, mixing well-worn heist and war movie tropes without adding anything fresh. The acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with characters that feel like stock archetypes rather than fully realized people. The cinematography offers some decent underwater sequences and Balkan scenery, which is the film's modest highlight. Novelty is low as the concept feels like a recycled mashup of better films in the genre. The ending resolves in a by-the-numbers fashion with little emotional payoff.