"Wildcat" (Nunn, 2025) - Review

Wildcat Tries to Jump on The Hype of the Action Genre

It is a reminder that not every movie with guns, fight scenes, explosions, and persecutions is worth the hype.

Written by Lara Rosales

The action genre has been a fan favourite for a very long time. Those who claim to be aficionados know exactly what it takes for an action movie to be a good movie. While many think that all that is needed is a few fight scenes with guns, car chases, and explosions, the truth is that there is much more to action movies than just that. However, Wildcat seems to believe that by adding those few elements, it has met the requirements to become a good action movie.

From the very beginning of the movie, there is too much going on. We aren’t done comprehending what happened when something else louder, faster, and more explosive happens. But even though the “action” doesn’t stop, the movie feels extremely flat. It sadly creeps into boredom territory on more than one occasion. Serves as a reminder that more isn’t always better.

Several moments felt like they were only filmed to help the action genre classification. When Ada (Kate Beckinsale) runs into a group of young men who begin catcalling her, it's one of those moments. She tries to escape them, but they follow her, leading to a fight that she undoubtedly wins. The sole purpose of this scene is to show that Ada can hold her own, is capable of fighting more than one man at a time, and is a badass. However, that scene is completely unnecessary for the film’s narrative. Viewers already know Ada is a badass; otherwise, none of this would be happening. It’s just an extra that could have been avoided, and instead used to build the team’s past better.

The same thing happens with the shooting that goes down in Curtis’s (Bailey Patrick) friend’s apartment. While the shooting may seem like a good idea for an action film, it doesn’t add anything to Wildcat’s plot. Instead, this time could have been used to dig deeper into why Curtis is risking his life for Ada. Or it could have been used to explain why the team always says “98” instead of leaving that for the end, with a very short and insignificant explanation.

Even though there is much that goes against the movie’s goals, Rasmus Hardiker’s performance is the highlight of the film. There is definitely more that could be explored when it comes to Eddie’s character and the past he shared with Ada. However, there is one particular moment that makes him stand out as probably the most memorable character.

Hardiker’s performance is particularly good when he explains to Curtis’s friend how it is that they all got dragged into this mess. The transition between locations helps the viewer better understand a story that seemed blurry up until that point. Now we know exactly why Charlotte was taken. But the scene also showcases Hardiker’s transitions between characters. Playing every role involved in previous conversations, he lets us in on the story that matters the most.

Wildcat is a reminder that not every movie with guns, fight scenes, explosions, and persecutions is worth the hype. Nevertheless, it is a great stage for Rasmus Hardiker to show what he is capable of.

Wildcat is now in select theatres and available on digital.