Movie Review: Braven (2018)

Braven (2018) is a survival thriller that brings a rugged blend of action, suspense, and raw emotional tension to the screen. Directed by Lin Oeding, this film stars Jason Momoa as Joe Braven, a woodsman and family man who is forced to confront dangerous drug dealers when they target his remote cabin. Set against the backdrop of a wintry landscape, Braven combines elements of survival, action, and familial bonds in a simple yet effective narrative that delivers intense thrills.

Plot Overview:

The plot of Braven revolves around Joe Braven, a timber logger who lives in the snowy, isolated mountains with his wife, Stephanie (Jill Wagner), and their young daughter, Charlotte (Sasha K. Gordon). Joe is a good-natured, hard-working man, with a strong sense of responsibility toward his family. However, his life takes a dangerous turn when he takes his ailing father, Linden (Stephen Lang), to their remote cabin in the woods for some quiet time.

Unbeknownst to Joe, his cabin is soon targeted by a group of drug dealers who are trying to retrieve a shipment of heroin. The situation escalates quickly when Joe and his father discover the drugs hidden in the cabin, putting them in the crosshairs of the ruthless criminals. As the dealers close in on the cabin, Joe must fight for the safety of his family, using his wits and survival skills to outmaneuver them in a battle for survival.

What follows is a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller, as Joe goes from being a simple family man to becoming a fierce protector, using his knowledge of the wilderness to fight off the increasingly dangerous threats that surround him.

Direction and Tone:

Director Lin Oeding, making his feature film debut, crafts a lean, efficient thriller that doesn’t waste time on unnecessary subplots. The film’s pacing is tight, ensuring that the tension is constant and palpable. The wintry, remote setting is effectively used to create an atmosphere of isolation and danger. Oeding uses the setting to his advantage, highlighting the vulnerability of Joe and his family while also showcasing the fierce, survivalist instincts that are awakened when the family is under attack.

The tone of Braven is gritty, intense, and grounded in realism. While the action sequences are thrilling, the film doesn’t indulge in over-the-top violence or implausible stunts. Instead, Oeding focuses on creating a sense of authenticity, allowing the characters to react in believable ways to the situations they are thrust into. The survivalist themes—fighting for survival in a remote environment, protecting loved ones, and using one’s skills to adapt to a perilous situation—are woven throughout the film, adding depth to what might otherwise be a straightforward action flick.

Performance and Casting:

Jason Momoa’s performance as Joe Braven is one of the film’s strongest assets. Known for his roles in Aquaman and Game of Thrones, Momoa brings his signature physicality and presence to the role of Joe, but it is his emotional depth that sets this performance apart. As Joe faces the threats to his family, Momoa effectively conveys the character’s transformation from a simple, caring father to a man willing to go to extreme lengths to protect his loved ones. His portrayal of Joe is both tough and vulnerable, which makes the character compelling and relatable.

Stephen Lang, known for his roles in Avatar and Don’t Breathe, plays Joe’s father, Linden, a man dealing with the effects of aging and a deteriorating mind. Linden’s relationship with Joe is central to the emotional core of the film. Lang brings a quiet, stoic intensity to the role, and his performance adds a layer of emotional depth to the story. His bond with Joe adds weight to the otherwise action-driven plot, making the stakes of the film feel more personal.

Jill Wagner plays Joe’s wife, Stephanie, though her role is more limited, and her character serves mainly as a supportive presence. Despite this, Wagner provides a strong performance in the scenes she shares with Momoa, adding an additional layer of humanity and warmth to the story.

The film’s antagonist, the drug dealers, are portrayed by a variety of actors, including Garret Dillahunt as the leader of the group. Dillahunt plays the villain with cold precision, creating a believable threat to Joe and his family. While the drug dealers’ characters aren’t deeply fleshed out, Dillahunt’s performance adds to the sense of danger they represent.

Action and Suspense:

The action in Braven is brutal and well-executed. The film doesn’t rely on flashy explosions or over-the-top fight choreography. Instead, the action is grounded in the real-world survival skills that Joe uses to protect his family. Whether he’s using his knowledge of the terrain to outmaneuver the criminals, engaging in hand-to-hand combat, or utilizing simple yet effective weapons from the environment, each action sequence feels earned and tense.

The film is full of suspense, especially as Joe’s plans to protect his family are thwarted at every turn. The dealers grow increasingly desperate, and the stakes are raised with each passing minute. The tension is heightened by the setting, with the cold, unforgiving wilderness acting as both an obstacle and a resource. The pacing, as mentioned earlier, ensures that there is little room for a breather, with each moment building on the last until the film’s explosive finale.

Themes and Emotional Impact:

At its core, Braven is about family and survival. Joe’s relationship with his father is central to the film’s emotional resonance, and the film explores themes of loyalty, love, and sacrifice. The father-son bond is tested as the two men must rely on each other to survive against the threat of the drug dealers. Joe’s devotion to protecting his family is also a key theme, and the film explores the lengths a father is willing to go to in order to ensure the safety of his loved ones.

The film also touches on themes of redemption and inner strength. Joe is not portrayed as an all-powerful hero; he is a man pushed to his limits, forced to confront his own fears and weaknesses in the face of danger. This makes him a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. The film portrays Joe’s growth as a person as he transforms from a mild-mannered man into a fierce protector. His journey is one of personal redemption, where he must come to terms with his own limitations and learn to fight for what he loves.

The stark, cold setting also plays a symbolic role in the film. The remote, wintry landscape represents both the physical isolation of Joe’s family and the emotional distance between him and the criminals that threaten his world. It is a setting that emphasizes the struggle for survival and the harshness of the situation, while also highlighting the internal struggle that Joe undergoes throughout the film.

Conclusion:

Braven (2018) is a taut, suspenseful thriller that combines action with emotional depth. Jason Momoa delivers a standout performance as Joe Braven, a character who must navigate both the physical and emotional challenges of protecting his family. The film’s gritty direction, grounded action sequences, and emotional stakes make it a surprisingly engaging and intense survival thriller.

While the plot may not be particularly groundbreaking, Braven excels in its simplicity. It’s a film that puts character first, using its protagonist’s personal journey to drive the narrative forward. The film’s focus on family bonds, survival, and redemption gives it a heart that elevates it above many other action thrillers in the same vein.

For fans of action-packed thrillers with a strong emotional core, Braven is a compelling and satisfying watch. It may not reinvent the genre, but it certainly provides a solid, engaging experience with a memorable performance by Jason Momoa. If you’re looking for a tense, action-filled film that also tugs at the heartstrings, Braven is a great choice.