He Hears LONDON CALLING

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Allan Ungar and Quiver Distribution comes the story of hits and unlikely friendships with LONDON CALLING.

Tommy Ward (Josh Duhamel) is a well-known hitman in the UK. Boss Harry (Arnold Vosloo) sends him out of an important hit and it has gone, well, really bad. Now, with a bounty on his head, Tommy has to say goodbye to his son and get out of London going to the one place he hates – Los Angeles. A few years has passed and now Tommy works for Benson (Rick Hoffman) doing the same odd hit here and there and finding what he does best – trouble!

The word gets out internationally that Tommy is in L.A. and one interested person is Freddy Darby (Aidan Gillen) who has a bone to pick with him. Tommy wants to get back to London to see his son and Benson suggests a trade, a plane ticket for help with son Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor). Julian is a kid into video games and larping which has dad Benson just believing that the family business will disappear if he doesn’t grow up. The trade is this; take Julian to look for the next hit, Alistair McRory (Neil Sandilands) and see it through.

Tommy really isn’t happy with the arrangement but finds himself wanting to help the young man, especially after learning he’d been bullied by his larping group. The lessons begin in shooting, hand to hand ‘combat’, and how to scare people into doing what they want. They get to practice on Seamus McRory (Brandon Auret), Alistair’s brother. As if the pair isn’t busy enough, let’s not forget Darby and his axe that needs grinding. The most unlikely pair getting into the most ridiculous trouble soon discover that this twisted friendship has heart!

Duhamel as Tommy clearly had several good years as a hitman and his name is known to everyone in the game. Something is not quite right but Tommy refuses to hear anything about it, even when a grave mistake sends him to L.A. I love Duhamel’s attitude which is almost that of a grumpy old man. Being a hitman seems to be the only thing that eases the steam from a very hot kettle. There is also a soft spot that Julian taps into and it can be a good or bad thing depending on how you take the chaos!

Taylor as Julian is a kid who is floundering a bit and he finds solace in larping which, by the way, is still a thing enjoyed by a lot of people Feeling the strain between he and father Benson, it is an escape that it both helpful and hurtful. Being sent with Tommy, Julian takes everything he learns in stride and Taylor is a combination of hilarious and needing a warm hug to bat away the insecurities of this character.

Hoffman as Benson is just the worst of the worst of bosses. He has no problem leaving a trail of bodies all over L.A. and happily throws money at Tommy to make it happen. When he is confronted by his son’s issues, like a boss he appointments someone else to handle it. When Darby shows up, its dollar signs, not a father’s love that motivates him. He’s creepy and icky which Hoffman pulls off with ease. Gillen as Darby is just a hot mess that wants to be the one to end Tommy and a trip to L.A. seems like a fun way to do it.

Sandilands as Alistair is just bat-doo-doo nuts and I am all about it. His character is twisted, all over the place and in need of some intense therapy. That being said, if you’re going to have a madman running after you, Sandilands character of Alistair is the guy to get the job done. Auret as brother Seamus knows Alistair is a sandwich short of a picnic but hey, he’s family and that means everything so let the war begin. 

Other cast include Daniah De Villiers as Erika, Daniel Thomas as Arthur, Daniel Lasker as Barnabus, Jazzara Jaslyn as Darya, Ntlanhla Morgan Kutu as Amos Woodley, Finnley Barnett as Oliver and Karl Thaning as Ricky.                                           

Quiver Distribution helps filmmakers distribute to worldwide audiences on platforms such as iTunes, Google Play and Netflix. Premier works with every major studio and 100’s of independent distributors providing solutions and servicing their content in 100’s of digital retailers and broadcasters across the globe. For more information on Quiver Distribution please visit www.quiverdigital.com.

LONDON CALLING is a mixture of action, suspense, drama, comedy and a few unlikely hitmen. There are twists and turn that bring unexpected surprises with giggles that can’t be suppressed. Duhamel and Taylor together make a great team in the midst of the reasons they are having to get a job done. They learn to understand one another which keeps them moving toward a day of larping and a reunion with family.

Director Ungar takes the story on a ride that matches Tommy’s gold toned 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix. Tommy is supposed to be teaching Julian how to be a ‘man’ but it is their relationship that helps them both grow up. The cinematography is fast and explosive to say the least which adds to the weird telling of the film. Hang on to your gun because this is going to get outlandish and entertaining.

In the end – this isn’t any ordinary babysitting job!