Last Resort – Review

Ex–special forces dad with a death stare? Check. Thai bank heist with bioterrorism stakes? Check. Villain who looks like he models for Evil GQ? Check.

Let’s be clear: Last Resort isn’t trying to reinvent the action genre. It’s here to roundhouse-kick it back to the 80’s, slather it in all the Action heroes with the first name of John tropes it can find*, and slap them all into a Bangkok high-rise with Jon Foo front and centre.

Foo plays Michael Reed a brooding, guilt-ridden soldier trying to do the whole ‘quiet life with family’ thing until, you guessed it, everything goes explosively sideways. His wife and daughter get caught up in a non-sensical hostage situation during what appears to be the most overqualified bank robbery in Thailand’s history. Only twist? These goons aren’t after money, they want a canister of super-deadly toxin that’s being stored there, because well, why not eh?

From minute one, Last Resort wants you to know you’re not here for deep character arcs. You’re here to watch Jon Foo sprint, punch, flip, kick, and growl his way up floor after floor like he’s cosplaying John McClane while in The Raid.

Foo delivers. The man moves like a blur of fury with a completely realistic SAS tattoo, and when the fists fly, they connect. The fight scenes are shot with enough clarity to appreciate the choreography, which is more than can be said for a lot of stuff these days.

Clayton Norcross plays the big bad Cooper, who clearly got his villainy diploma from the Hans Gruber Academy. He’s got the snarl, the smug monologues, and the fashion sense of an Action Man. There’s not much depth, but to be fair, he knows it. He’s having a great time chewing scenery while everyone else tries to keep a straight face (literally in at least one scene).

The real-life mother and daughter duo (Julaluck and Angelina Ismalone) bring a bit of grounding to the chaos, but they’re mostly there to be threatened, rescued, and scream. There’s also a sympathetic local cop character who pops up now and then to deliver plot glue and moral support. The acting isn’t the best let’s be honest, but given the script they’re working with, it isn’t terrible either.

Plot-wise, it’s… functional. Think Die Hard with a bioweapon twist, but with less logic. There’s an ex special forces good guy who can tell someone has arthritis just by looking at them (honest), government types making cryptic phone calls, evil mercs who somehow can’t shoot straight, a boss who uses a walkie talkie like a phone and floor after floor of building site stacked on top of a premier banking institute. I’m not sure about Bangkok’s building codes but this seemed odd.

You’ll have questions. Why does he use the walkie talkie like that? Why does that guy get run over at the beginning? Why is Popeye the only cartoon? Where did all of those baddies come from? There’s CCTV everywhere, how did they stash those AK47’s? Would that vial of deadly chemicals really fit into that case? BUT, If you’re asking questions, you’re doing it wrong. This is a film where the only rule is “Jon Foo can kill you with a clipboard.”

It’s also a film that wants to say something about family, redemption, sacrifice, yadda yadda. But much like its villain’s exit strategy, it sort of gives up halfway through. Emotional beats are rushed, character development is sparse, and any philosophical musings are drowned out by the sound of bullets flying.

Still, for a low-budget flick, Last Resort looks surprisingly slick. The Bangkok location gives it some flavour, the sound design is tight, and the action is well-paced once it kicks in. It drags a bit in the first act, but once Foo goes full action-dad mode, it’s all daft dialogue and knuckle-splitting fights.

So it’s unlikely to bother the Oscars but if your idea of a good night in involves hostage situations, bad guys with perfect hair, and a lead actor who moves like a ninja tank, Last Resort delivers the goods. Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Is it fun? Totally. So if you’re in the mood for B-movie bombast and some solid fight choreography. Grab the snacks, mute your brain, and let the chaos commence.

Last Resort is available on digital via Miracle Media in the UK from 16 June 2025.

*Rambo, Matrix, McClane (First Blood, Commando, Die Hard)