Feature films based off of video games have been improving steadily since the genre saw resurgence in the ‘00’s. No longer are films comical washouts like Super Mario Brothers or Street Fighter, though it can definitely be said that video game adaptations still have a ways to go before the genre can gain real mainstream respect.

Now, I’ve never played any of the Max Payne video games before, so I cannot say much in regards to how faithful to the franchise this movie is. I do know that the video games are known for their cinematic noir presentation of the dark storyline, that the game’s protagonist as a man who’s run out of options is well presented, and that the game makes frequent use of cinematic techniques such as slow motion during game play to aid the player and cause events to have more of an impact.  That said I can only really move forward this review based on the film’s own merits. As far as what I know of the video games, it seems to mesh well. Like in the games, Max Payne is a detective whose family was brutally murdered, a singular event that has since shattered his life. Even more so since one of the killers escaped and is still at large even after so many years. Payne becomes obsessed with finding this missing killer, to the point where he ceases to care anymore about what happens to himself. When an unexpected lead pops up with a connection to his family’s cold case file, Max is hell-bent to get to the bottom of it. Along the way, his partner is killed, he gets framed for murder, and several factions including his own police percent all become his enemies. In order to go the distance and expose the conspiracy, he must stare down the sweet release of death, the only thing that can truly reunite him with his family. For a man so broken, the question is whether or not he has the personal strength to carry through and bring justice to those he loved.

So yes, there is no question that the film is a dark and gritty crime drama with high action gunplay sequences. Where this film falters is the bizarre sub-plot involving a new drug on the streets. This drug ties into the conspiracy that Max is investigating, so it has a prominent place in the plot. When people consume it, it grants them superhuman endurance with the side effect of inducing supernatural hallucinations; it causes imbibers to see angels of death. This supernatural element is poorly executed. The film can’t seem to make up its mind as to whether or not these things are real or merely hallucinations. It may not seem like much, but that flaw becomes a stumbling block as the film progresses and opens up some huge plot holes that are never fully addressed. Also, it allows the film to be misrepresented; judging by the description on the back of the box, I assumed the film would be going down a similar road to “Constantine”.

While the film is not necessarily bad, it is definitely not on par with “Hitman”, the major video game adaptation which came out only a year before this one. The special effects are good, and I guess the plot is adequate, although the twists the movie attempts to throw at you struck me as being very cliché. The movie is dark and gritty, and nicely stylized, but the addition of the unnecessary supernatural elements makes it seem like the director tried to squeeze in too much. I wouldn’t expect too much from this one, folks, but it does make for a nice rental.