A Vigilante is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Sarah Daggar-Nickson. It stars Olivia Wilde, Morgan Spector, Kyle Catlett, C.J. Wilson, Tonye Patano, Chuck Cooper, Betsy Aidem and Judy Marte.
A Vigilante | |
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Directed by | Sarah Daggar-Nickson |
Written by | Sarah Daggar-Nickson |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Alan McIntyre Smith |
Edited by |
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Music by |
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Production companies |
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Distributed by | Saban Films |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2018, and was released on March 29, 2019, by Saban Films.
Sadie works as a vigilante, helping women and children escape abusive homes and family members. She struggles with money, asking for whatever the people she helps can give and attempting to redeem a life insurance policy on her still-missing husband. She lives out of a motel room, the wall of which is posted with a map she has been using to search for him.
After Sadie works out and disguises herself with latex makeup, contacts and a wig, she is invited to the home of Andrea and Michael Shaund, claiming that she needs to conduct a health insurance assessment. Sadie overpowers Michael with her martial arts training, forces him to transfer the deed to his home and most of his money to Sadie, and tells him to leave and never go near her or their children again. Sadie tells Andrea to pass on her contact number to anyone she feels needs it.
Sadie helps a young woman escape from her abusive partner, beats up three men who assault her outside a bar, and rescues a young boy and his infant brother from their drug-addicted mother who had been keeping the infant locked away in squalor. She tells the boy that police and social services will arrive soon. When the boy asks her to look after them, she says she cannot as they would not be safe with her, but she leaves him her phone number in case he needs her help.
Sadie finally opens up to her therapy group about her past, revealing that her brutal, manic husband tried to force her and their young son, Cody, to move out of their home and live off the grid together. When she tried to escape with Cody, he chased them both with a knife, stabbed Sadie repeatedly, and killed Cody in a fit of rage.
After Cody's murder, Sadie returns to her old home, finding a book on Krav Maga which sparks her interest. She finds some of Cody's belongings there, including a sketch he drew with the letter "C" prominently displayed. She decides to leave a note for her group therapy leader, telling her that she is available to help other women in trouble. Returning to her room, she notices something odd about her map and sees what looks like a bloody fingerprint, before suddenly being struck from behind and knocked unconsciousness.
Sadie wakes up bound to a chair in a mountain cabin, her sadistic husband taunting her and welcoming her back home. He tears up Cody's drawing and leaves her restrained to go hunt for food. When he returns, Sadie tries to stab him, but he knocks the blade aside and breaks her arm. Sadie escapes and, after a lengthy chase, the two of them finally confront each other. She tells her husband that he killed their son because he couldn't stand to have someone see him for the monster he really was. Sadie overpowers and kills him.
After dumping his body on a nearby road, Sadie flees the scene. She visits her attorney, who tells her the police found her husband's body but no evidence of the murderer. Due to his felon status, they don't seem willing to look further into the case, and with his body found, her life insurance claim will be processed. Sadie leaves to help a woman who has contacted her for help.
In November 2016, it was announced Olivia Wilde had been cast in the film, with Sarah Daggar-Nickson directing from a screenplay she wrote. Randall Emmett, George Furla, Andrew D. Corkin, Lars Knudsen and Ambyr Childers served as producers on the film, under their Badlands Entertainment, The Long Run, Uncorkd Productions, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films and Parts & Labor banners, respectively.[1]
The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2018.[2] Shortly after, Saban Films had acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[3] It was released on March 29, 2019.[4]
A Vigilante received positive reviews from film critics. It holds a 90% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 40 reviews, with an average of 6.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Led by Olivia Wilde's fearless performance and elevated by timely themes, A Vigilante is an uncompromising thriller that hits as hard as its protagonist."[5] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 68 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6]