MOVIE REVIEW by Lucas Allen: ‘Infidel’ is a home-watch, not theater-watch

Infidel
(Cloudburst Entertainment)

By Lucas Allen

The new thriller “Infidel” is a politically charged film, as complex as trying to understand world politics. It also uses themes about Christianity and how one’s faith can be tested during a dangerous hour. This film may not be entirely accessible to any average viewer, but hold that thought as you read on.
Doug (Jim Caviezel) is a successful Christian blogger with a loving wife, Liz (Claudia Karvan), who works for the State Department. Despite his wife giving up on faith after a tragic accident, he’s still committed to both his marriage and his job. But his faith is truly tested when he finds out that his friend Javid (Aly Kassem) is part of a terrorist cell that’s recruiting members. When the blogger went to Cairo for a television appearance, he causes a commotion after telling the host about Jesus. Not long after, he gets kidnapped by Ramzi (Hal Ozsan) and his co-horts before he ended up being imprisoned in Iran.
Because the government doesn’t want to get involved, Liz, in desperation, flies to the Middle East to convince the Iranian authorities to free her husband. However, Doug stands accused of being a CIA agent spying on Iran and could end up facing a death sentence. It’s now up to Liz and an underground unit of freedom fighters to break her husband out of prison.
This is not a simple story, the movie is designed to shock viewers with its depiction of opposition between countries, politics and religion. However you view these issues while watching this movie is up to you, but this film doesn’t take it entirely too seriously. While there are lots of serious moments, the movie tends to dip its foot in some comedy unintentionally at times. The tonal change in each scene is pretty baffling, and it doesn’t help that the villains are your typical, over-the-top caricatures you’ve seen in other action movies.
The movie’s style is pretty average at best. It seems they’re trying to emulate Paul Greengrass and his Jason Bourne movies with stylistic camerawork and editing but without the shaky cam. But watching it, it feels like a direct-to-video, faith-based mockbuster that shouldn’t be seen at a pricey theater. The action is fine, but it makes you wish you’re watching one of the delayed big-name titles instead.
The only worthwhile thing about the film is the acting. Caviezel replays his Jesus role from “The Passion of the Christ,” this time in sincere fashion as a modern faithful character fighting for his life. Karvan gets to play the heroic wife, which is certainly a rarity in Hollywood action movies. Unlike the other over-the-top villains, Ozsan is charismatic and plays the character with the right amount of sly.
The intent is certainly there, but “Infidel” ends up being too silly to be taken seriously. It’s simply disposable entertainment that isn’t worth returning to theaters for. It’s better to just stay home and find anything to watch On Demand.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for violence and language)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 2.25 Stars (Out of Four)