Misdirection review (2026)
Misdirection feels like the filmmakers have a pretty decent concept for a music video excruciatingly dragged out through an increasingly goofier full-length movie.
As the film plays out, it’s clear that Misdirection was genuinely mis-directed, poorly written and inadequately acted.
Sara (Olga Kurylenko, Thunderbolts*) and Jason (Oliver Trevena, Plane) are a pair of thieves who are ready to settle down and live a regular life. Like any self-respecting thieves, Sara and Jason have to pull off one final score before easing into retirement.
Their mark this time is David Blume (Frank Grillo, Peacemaker), a high-end defense attorney who’s rich enough that he doesn’t flinch at making $250,000 donations and have an indoor pool so he can do his laps.
David remarks about his former drug addiction but hasn’t quenched all of his taboo instincts as he’s running around with Landa (Julie Smalles), the wife of one of his friends.
Sara has mapped out David’s schedule to a tee so both she and Jason are shocked to see David pulling up to the garage when he should be hours away from arriving. In fairness, for a pair of thieves they’re pretty lackadaisical in getting all David’s loot especially considering they know the code for his safe.
David isn’t clueless and realizes he’s got burglars in his house. He manages to shoot Jason in the arm before Sara handcuffs him to the bed.
Director Kevin Lewis doesn’t convey any urgency with the thieves as they respond to a now-hostage situation. Misdirection begins losing momentum at this point and never stops bleeding out little by little with each subsequent scene.
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Sara starts acting erratic, which allows David the opportunity to start sowing doubt in her intentions to Jason. These are the rare bright spots in Misdirection as Grillo gets to shine. He gives some ambiguity to David — is he an innocent victim to some larger scheme of Sara’s or is he playing Jason.
Screenwriter Lacy McClory doesn’t do Misdirection any favors either as she aims to ratchet the thrills and suspense with clumsily revealed twists. McClory intentionally holding vital information back from the audience is fine. The problem here is when the characters do it to each other.
It’s in the spirit of creating some bombshell jaw dropping revelations, but it just comes off like a goofy soap opera watching characters finally come clean on their motives. McClory’s script didn’t need a total overhaul, but a tighter final act could have helped prevent the bottom of Misdirection from falling out so dramatically.
Misdirection doesn’t have a large cast, which puts more pressure on the three leads to carry the film. Kurylenko has delivered solid performances in the past, but she never seems to connect with Sara whether with shaky line delivery or melodramatic expressions and postures.
Trevana is adequately convincing in his role but so much more of the burden lies with Kurylenko who has the key role in Misdirection. Lewis adds to the sense of discombobulating with a distracting soundtrack. Although the song selection is decent enough, Lewis incorporating them in awkward moments and coming in at a volume that frequently competes with the dialogue.
Lewis seems conflicted with the story he’s trying to convey as Misdirection would have benefited from less toe-tapping rock songs and more on an ominous, mysterious score.
Misdirection is a relatively quick experience at 84 minutes, yet it feels padded given its lack of urgency and frustratingly inept twists.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Photo Credit: Ollywood Media
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