We all remember the high tension, high-stakes action of the hit Fox thriller series 24, led by Kiefer Sutherland in his role as Jack Bauer. And in an attempt to recreate the same magic on the big screen, Thunder Road, the production house behind films like Sicario, is confirmed to be involved with this new project, titled Hour of Reckoning (via Deadline).
Joining the production, along with Thunder Road, are other companies like Southpaw and Midnight Express. And although the aim here is to create a Western film for modern times, the synopsis provided seems very generic and not confidence-inspiring.
Hour of Reckoning Aims to Be a Modern Western Story
It seems like actor Kiefer Sutherland has been on a roll recently with new projects casting him in the lead role, one of which is the revival of 24, where the star is said to reprise his role as Jack Bauer. But on the other hand, when we talk about Hour of Reckoning, the synopsis feels underwhelming, as you can read below.
When a retired lawman (Sutherland) returns to his dying hometown to investigate his brother’s mysterious death, he uncovers a brutal criminal empire led by a charismatic psychopath who rules through fear and corruption. As he digs deeper into a web of drug and human trafficking, his pursuit of truth ignites a violent war for justice—pitting one man’s code against an entire town. Hour of Reckoning is a gritty, high-octane revenge thriller that turns one man’s hunt for the truth into a scorched-earth war against corruption.
And according to the film’s director, Vaughn Stein, the film is set to be a Neo-Western story, similar to the theme of Yellowstone by Taylor Sheridan, but with the added flavor of brutal, gritty, and character-driven action. Yet when you summarise the synopsis, it reads like the generic ‘One Man Army’ trope that we have seen several times in the past.
What doesn’t surprise many at the same time is that Thunder Road has also been associated with the production of the iconic John Wick films, a franchise that became legendary because of the same trope. And since then, many films have tried to recreate the same magic, but failed in one way or the other.
But then again, since it’s Thunder Road behind the project, people still have hope for the upcoming film.
The Sicaro Producers Can Pull Off a Neo-Western Film Successfully
When it comes to the production house, they have proven that the amalgamation of the aforementioned ‘One Man Army’ genre and a Neo-Western is right up their alley. The biggest indicator of this is John Wick, along with Sicario, which is considered a Neo-Western film series.
The abundance of classic Western hallmarks, like extreme moral conflicts and disturbing visceral imagery, already puts the film series in the category. At the same time, what makes it stand out is the minimal influence of the Western time period on the narrative, driven by law enforcement organizations in contrast to outlaws.
And to top it all off, characters are similar archetypes that we found in classic Westerns of old, giving it that nostalgic feel while not taking anything away from the modern setting. Therefore, Thunder Road has a solid chance of pulling this project off successfully.
Here’s more information on the two Sicario films that have been released so far.
Are you excited for Hour of Reckoning? Tell us in the comments below.
24 is available to stream on Hulu/Disney+ (US).
