Reprisal is at pains to profess its faith in the symbols of law and order, but it cannot fully repress its almost erotic longing for the unfettered violence of the terrorist.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The New York Times by Ben Kenigsberg
Even those inclined to sympathize with that premise politically may feel insulted by the plot hole-a-palooza offered here to support it.
RogerEbert.com by Christy Lemire
A blandly gritty piece of late-August mayhem that’s as forgettable as its generic title.
Village Voice by Craig D. Lindsey
It’s downright sad watching Willis go all half-assed in another movie. I guess we’re gonna have to wait for Glass to come out next year to see if Willis can do a movie in whole-assed form again.
The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck
Grillo uncharacteristically displays no charisma, although considering the material he's working with, it's not surprising that he looks like he simply gave up. Speaking of giving up, Willis, who provides a few sparks to the otherwise lamentable Death Wish remake, here reverts to his by now usual phoning it in.
Reprisal is not a very good movie, but it leaves you with tantalizing hints that some people involved with it are capable of doing something much better.
Los Angeles Times by Katie Walsh
All in all, just another boring genre exercise.
Film Journal International by Maitland McDonagh
The bottom line is that Reprisal is an extremely silly movie doing its damnedest to look tough and gritty and clever, none of which it is. In fact, it’s both tediously formulaic and weirdly puzzling.
There’s virtually nothing to distinguish Reprisal from a thousand other cop-vs-robber B pictures, except for the violence.