Canary Black: Why That Big Twist Completely Missed the Mark!
Canary Black: A Spy Thriller That Blew Its Biggest Secret
Canary Black, directed by Pierre Morel (known for action flicks like Taken and The Gunman), stars Kate Beckinsale as a badass CIA agent who goes rogue to rescue her kidnapped hubby, David (Rupert Friend). This is already quite the setup and the movie itself should already deliver something enjoyable to action fans!
Beckinsale, with her Underworld experience, shines! But that storyline…it uses familiar spy thriller tropes and really could have done better. And this results in a pretty significant moment failing to be anything special, despite how important it could've otherwise become: The reveal at the climax: David is secretly Kali (that shadowy assassin she's been hunting), This supposedly “shocking” plot point hits way, way too late and this is completely wasted!
An Obvious Twist That Lost Its Sting
Avery (Beckinsale) is a total action queen–super skilled, capable of anything, basically another female Jack Bauer! The storyline creates one weakness for this character though–she loves David. This is completely predictable: the villains capture David, giving Avery this short timeline to steal some secret doohickey. Viewers only get brief glimpses of that loving relationship; Friend spends most of the film tied to a chair!
This reveal regarding David’s true nature lacks any shock. Why? Because audiences already figured it out by then. It is completely obvious: the husband seems too good to be true – that classic red herring from storytelling, Friend’s presence guarantees a much larger and significant role! And the film constantly hints early on about how mysterious Kali really is; it would've been rather shocking had anyone other than David be revealed as this shadowy assassin.
This creates an unenviable spot for Avery. She's constantly behind the viewers! It makes her seem not so amazing and superhuman as was initially implied through her character development! And her reputation takes quite the hit here; due to a poorly designed plot point.
A Missed Chance for a Subversive Twist
Canary Black’s MacGuffin, itself, the “Canary Black” is innovative. The climax’s sense of urgency felt very well planned. Yet that storyline falls back on standard tropes – specifically David's secret identity! His sudden hero appearance felt shocking, but not in a positive sense – rather showing how the movie finally gets around to a key aspect already clear to most audiences. The energy the movie uses to mask the fact that everyone can see what is happening ahead of Avery’s revelation; and is a clear instance where this storytelling device would backfire on those involved, as those obvious and easily guessed plot points really made this storyline lack many interesting components! This would be particularly troubling since an excellent opportunity to tell a darker version of a far more established story could have easily been made!
That twist could’ve worked much better, and this is extremely clear to see by having this reveal appear earlier in that movie’s run time! Avery’s discovery of Kali's connection; especially his secret activities and all that debt; could add many unique elements! This would really change her motivations; it wouldn't simply be rescuing her husband but learning her own role in everything that she has committed to earlier! A vastly superior and far more innovative angle!
A Sequel Tease With Intriguing Potential
Avery’s offered that great new gig; basically creating an assassin job and she now must face her past choices; her husband David/Kali’s escape! He asks for her help, attempting to make up for all those terrible acts in order to make her trust him; she rightfully refuses – stating she needs answers; demonstrating how impossible some kinds of relationships are if damaged beyond a certain point!
That finale’s detail concerning that ring placement hints towards a future storyline; maybe even setting up the Canary Black sequel already. Maybe Avery becoming this new assassin creates more reasons for David’s return! And this could also become this strange, complex re-imagining of that well-known story concerning Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Imagine Avery’s intense emotional turmoil dealing with David/Kali; struggling to work against him as a superior. This could also easily feature betrayal– but its more creative take, unlike what we had here could really be appealing; generating high levels of audience excitement; but we can only wait and see if these future events really come true!
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity for an Unforgettable Thriller
Canary Black might be a fun action movie but that surprise ending lacks some impact and suspense; its too obvious to be effective! Shifting that Kali reveal much earlier could make Avery's position completely unpredictable; providing that very satisfying edge and intrigue. Even its tease regarding a possible Canary Black sequel shows a more engaging path. Yet a superior screenplay and writing choices could possibly change its outcome. Let’s see if those future movies make some more positive changes!
