Spectral (2016)

“Spectral” stars James Badge Dale, Emily Mortimer, Max Martini, and Bruce Greenwood.  Released on Netflix on December 9, 2016, the film is about a scientist who teams up with a special-ops team to battle supernatural threats that are able to kill almost instantly.

The film features the directorial debut of Nic Mathieu.  Originally, this film was set for a theatrical release in August 2016 with Universal Pictures handling the distribution rights.  Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, so they let Netflix handle it instead.  Clearly, Netflix likes to get all of the interesting films.  I just got off of work today, so I needed to watch and possibly review something on Netflix before I go to bed.  For those who haven’t heard of this film, it’s best described as a supernatural version of Black Hawk Down.  For those who are curious about whether the film is good or not, well, here you go.

Pros:
The performances were decent.

The visual effects were very impressive.

Nic Mathieu’s direction was passable.

The action was enjoyable.

Cons:
The characters weren’t that strong or memorable.

The story’s a bit predictable.

Not enough emotional depth.

Final thoughts: With its decent performances from the cast, some enjoyable action sequences, and plenty of stunning visuals, “Spectral” is one of the more entertaining films that you can watch at the comfort of your own home.  This film could’ve gone in either direction depending on its execution, and from the looks of it, it does its job well despite its flaws.  If you’re looking for a decent original film from Netflix, try giving this one a shot. ​

C+