Prime Video's #1 Movie Is (Unfortunately) a Failed Attempt to Revive the Pirate Action Genre

By the mid-2020s, streaming services had finally stopped pretending to be an alternative to traditional cinema. They became big cinema themselves, complete with expensive sets, star-studded casts, and producers.

Frank E. Flowers' The Bluff is a case in point – fast-paced, violent, and action-packed, it's practically a blockbuster. However, the pirate genre demands more than just blood and swords, it demands soul as well.

The Bluff has serious problems in that regard. Here's why the movie, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban, doesn't measure up to even a mediocre Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

What Is 'The Bluff' About?

It's 1846, and the age of piracy is coming to an end. Former pirate Ercell has left her bloody past behind. She has hidden her plundered treasure in the caves of a paradise island and now lives a quiet life as a mother and wife.

However, Captain Connor, perhaps the last buccaneer in the Caribbean, is hot on her trail. It turns out that he is not only Ercell's old comrade in piracy, but also the rightful owner of the gold bars.

His crew of cutthroats begins terrorizing the island, forcing Ercell to take up arms again to protect her family.

'The Bluff' Isn't a Hilarious Pirate Adventure Like the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Movies

Deliberately rejecting the romanticized image of piracy created by Gore Verbinski, Flowers and his producers leave out the parrots, rum, and playful captains with eyeliner. Instead, The Bluff is filled with filth, meanness, and violence.

People slaughter each other with a ferocity that even Gareth Evans would appreciate. It's a deconstruction of the genre, an attempt to portray pirates as brutal killers rather than fairytale heroes – and the idea itself isn't bad.

However, The Bluff finds itself caught between two stools – it doesn't want to be a fairy tale, yet it also falls short of being a gritty historical drama. The historical setting is merely a backdrop for a generic revenge plot that could take place in a Western, a post-apocalyptic world, or a modern crime thriller.

'The Bluff' Offers Viewers Nothing Other Than Average-Level Action

The fight scenes in The Bluff are briskly shot with a rhythmical and physical style that emphasizes bladed weapons. When the characters hack at each other with sabers, it's impressive.

However, as soon as the gunfights begin, the dynamics drop – muskets fire in dark, cramped spaces, making it impossible to see anything.

Captain Connor is the exception with his anachronistic six-shooter, but he alone isn't enough. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is convincing as a woman with a dark past, but her character lacks depth.

The main problems with The Bluff are the script and direction. Motivations are stated rather than demonstrated, dramatic twists are totally predictable, and the supporting characters are faceless extras.

The Bluff is a good choice for those who miss Pirates of the Caribbean and are willing to watch anything while waiting for the next movie. However, it's still better to rewatch the old ones.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Bluff'?

• The Bluff has 71% from critics and 67% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 5.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Bluff scored 2.7/5.0.