French filmmaker Pierre Morel directed the original Taken film, where Liam Neeson’s character goes on a mission to rescue his daughter and later his wife. Given Morel’s experience with this type of action thriller, it’s no surprise that he was chosen to direct a similar story in this new film. In this version, a female spy must save her husband who has been kidnapped, unaware of her secret life as a spy. While the gender swap doesn’t add much to the story, there are some empowering moments where the heroine challenges her adversaries for using derogatory language.
Despite the familiar plot, Morel excels in choreographing the intense action sequences, particularly the thrilling car chases through a European city. The film was shot in Croatia, using locations in Zagreb and Ljubljana. The cast is led by the talented and tough Kate Beckinsale, who plays the role of Avery Graves, the spy on a mission to rescue her husband. Beckinsale delivers a convincing performance, even taking on an American accent for most of the film, with some humorous moments where she pretends to be British in disguise.
Beckinsale’s character, Graves, is always impeccably dressed, often in form-fitting attire and stylish boots, adding to her fierce persona. The story unfolds as Graves must defy her own agency to retrieve her husband, who is held captive by kidnappers demanding a top-secret file known as Canary Black. As the plot unravels, nothing is as it seems, keeping the audience on their toes.
The film’s visuals provide a backdrop of constant action, with gunshots and explosions punctuating the scenes, mostly set at night. The color palette reflects the title, with dark tones accented by splashes of orange and neutral hues. The technology featured in the film is as sleek as the costumes, perhaps reflecting a subtle feminist message, though the film itself lacks depth and complexity.
Canary Black is now available on Prime Video.