In 2008 the MMA film Never Back Down hit the big screen and did well enough that it ended up spawning two sequels in 2011 with Never Back Down: The Beatdowm and in 2016 with Never Back Down: No Surrender both starring and directed by Michael Jai White. Now Sony is bringing an all-new chapter to the franchise with Never Back Down: Revolt starring Olivia Popica, Michael Bisping, Nitu Chandra Srivasttava, Brooke Johnston, Diana Hoyos, and James Faulkner.

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Never Back Down: Revolt follows an amateur fighter who is lured by a trafficking syndicate specializing in elite underground fighting where her brutal captor forces her to fight or face certain death.

 

This is yet another one of those films in a franchise that is connected in name alone. Where the previous films all had some sort of connection in characters, this one goes off the rails in its own direction and not a very good one sadly. The story throws out the “Beatdown” element that was the original focal point and turns to underground fighting and trafficking. This could have worked to make it a deeper direction for the series, but it sadly never offers up much to stand out.

 

These films are obviously all about the fighting so you would hope that what the film lacks in its story or execution it would at least make up in some bad ass fighting. This should be the saving grace to the film, but they are all mostly forgettable like the rest of the film. It tries really hard and they are decent enough at times, but nothing ever really stands out to elevate it beyond average at best.

 

There is one shining light of getting to see the always awesome Chloe Bruce in a small role fighting, but even she was underused. I had high hopes for the action to this film and bummed that it never offered much up. Decide for yourself and grab your copy of Never Back Down: Revolt available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Sony Home Entertainment.