As Good as Dead
Strong violence, language in Mexico-set action tale.
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As Good as Dead
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that As Good as Dead is an ultra-violent action film set in Mexico but shot mostly in English. The main character is a Black ex-cop on the run for a crime he didn't commit and for taking on corrupt officials. Other characters, Mexican and American alike, are members of gangs, drugs or weapons dealers, or involved in human trafficking. The violence is relatively nonstop in this film, and there's lots of blood from shootings, stabbings, chemical attacks, arrow slices, martial arts fighting, and being set on fire. A man threatens to sell two teenagers to pedophiles. A woman, who appears to be a sex worker, begins to undress. Language includes variations on "f--k" and "ass," "s--t," "bulls--t," "goddamn," "hell," "bitch," "bastard," "screw," "balls," and mutt." Men drink from bottles while they gamble. There's discussion of drug lords.
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What's the Story?
Bryant (Michael Jai White) works as a land surveyor and lives alone in a mobile home in the dry hills of Nogales, Mexico in AS GOOD AS DEAD. On his way to school each morning, a teenager named Oscar (Luca Oriel) watches Bryant practice martial arts. After seeing Oscar chased through town by local thugs, Bryant agrees to train the boy. Oscar quickly learns to be an excellent fighter, but when he steps into an actual ring to impress his gangster brother Hector (Guillermo Iván), just out of prison, a video of him goes viral. Oscar's unique fight style draws the attention of imprisoned former police captain Sonny Kilbane (Tom Berenger) and his lawyer (Louis Mandylor), who have been trying to hunt down Bryant. They send their hitmen to the desert, and an all-out war begins, with Oscar and Hector in the middle.
Is It Any Good?
This campy, bloody, macho fight picture set in Northern Mexico is sure to find a niche audience. As Good as Dead is exactly the B-movie it aims to be, and its cast fits the bill perfectly, including a supporting performance from veteran Tom Berenger. Writer-star White is convincing as the invincible recluse with a past, and the brother duo played by Oriel and Iván have moments that approach endearing. The male bonding, which happens solely through violence but does include cross-cultural and ethical boundaries, also holds some interest (as well as flashbacks to Karate Kid). A funny scene has Iván and White debating which past action thriller their story most recalls. It's one of many winks the film seems to make as an intentionally hammy homage.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Bryant takes Oscar under his wing in As Good as Dead. What's his motivation?
Are there bad guys and good guys in this film, or do most characters seem to cross lines into both? Does that make you like them less or more? Why?
The film opens with mention of "millions of migrants" fleeing to the US each year from Mexico as well as some, like Bryant, going the other direction. How would you describe the connections between Northern Mexico and the Southern United States in the characters' lives in this movie?
Were the shoot-out scenes filmed in a way that felt realistic to you? Why or why not? Was this intentional?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 16, 2022
- Cast: Michael Jai White, Tom Berenger, Luca Oriel
- Director: R. Ellis Frazier
- Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 18, 2023
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