Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
An elite squad of Navy SEALs, on a covert mission to transport a prisoner off a CIA black site island prison, are trapped when insurgents attack while trying to rescue the same prisoner.
One Shot (2021) is a low-budget action thriller notable primarily for its single-take (or simulated single-take) gimmick, which lends it a degree of technical novelty and visceral immediacy that elevates the cinematography above average. However, the plot is thin and functional at best — a straightforward siege narrative with little character depth or narrative complexity despite the intriguing keywords. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable, with Scott Adkins leading a cast that doesn't have much material to work with. The ending resolves predictably without meaningful payoff, leaving little impression. The one-shot conceit is the film's defining distinguishing feature, giving it modest novelty, but it doesn't transcend its B-movie action thriller limitations.