Aftermath (2024)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Aftermath (2024)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Length:  1h 37min
Rating: R
Director: Patrick Lussier
Writer: Nathan Graham Davis
Actors: Dylan Sprouse, Mason Gooding, Megan Stott, Dichen Lachman, Derek K. Moore, Jason Armani Martinez, Mark Dancewicz, Daniel Rios Jr., Ashley Pynn, Mark Pettograsso, Shahjehan Khan, Mark Irvingsen, Joshua Wolf Coleman, Will Lyman, Nick Apostolides, Jared Frenke, Tanner Zagarino, Kevin Chapman

IMDb Blurb: A returning war veteran, stricken with PTSD, unwittingly gets trapped with his teenage sister on Boston's Tobin Memorial Bridge as a heavily weaponized group of ex-military revolutionists take everyone hostage.

Cat’s Point of View:
The trailer for Aftermath intrigued me. It released in a month where there was at least one other action thriller set on a bridge. While the other film had action royalty among the cast, Aftermath looked like it just might be the more relatable of the two in terms of story. Both narratives seemed a little far-fetched, but entertainment doesn’t always have to make complete sense, right?

There was also the bonus of checking out the action chops of Dylan Sprouse (Dismissed, The Duel, Beautiful Disaster). My daughter and I have enjoyed following the Sprouse twins’ careers, considering we practically watched them grow up on TV while they worked on their Disney projects. (My daughter was a massive fan of their shows so I ended up watching it all, too.)

I am also a fan of Dichen Lachman (Altered Carbon, Jurassic World: Dominion, Severance) and have enjoyed her work, which was also a good selling point for Aftermath.

I was not disappointed with either of their performances.

This was an interesting departure from the horror genre for up-and-comer Mason Gooding (Scream VI, Fall, Heart Eyes), as well. His part in this story was a little more out-there and I think he over-sold it just a little bit. Leaning into the unhinged bad-guy certainly pushed this plot along and created tension, so I wasn’t entirely put off by it.

I was surprised to learn that this was the screenwriting debut for Nathan Graham Davis. I’m interested in seeing the stories he brings to the screen next. If this was his beginnings, I’d hope things only improve from here – and this wasn’t a bad place to start.

Was Aftermath the best offering within this genre I’ve watched in the past year? Not really, but I was buying what they were selling. The effects and prop/sets departments really did a great job blending seamlessly the elements shot on sound stages and on location. My untrained eye couldn’t tell the difference.

While Aftermath likely won’t be a film that sticks out in my memory over time, I was entertained while watching it and didn’t feel that my time had been wasted.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 17%
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – 5.6/10
IMDB Score – 5.1/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

Movie Trailer: