Zero

2024

Action / Comedy / Thriller

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 53% · 19 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 53%
IMDb Rating 5.1/10 10 169 169

Director

Jean Luc Herbulot Photo
Jean Luc Herbulot

Top cast

Gary Dourdan Photo
Gary Dourdan as Daniel
Moran Rosenblatt Photo
Moran Rosenblatt as India
Adam Bussell Photo
Adam Bussell as Backseat Man
Roger Sallah Photo
Roger Sallah as Onaye
720p.BLU
812.29 MB
1280*690
English 2.0
R
Subtitles
24 fps
1 hr 28 min
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Movie Reviews

Reviewed by TheMovieSearch 5 / 10

It feels a lot longer than what it is.

Zero is one of those films that quietly grows on you the longer you sit with it. At first glance, it feels like a familiar setup-bombs, countdowns, pressure, and characters forced into impossible situations-but the film manages to carve out its own identity through restraint and commitment rather than spectacle. While it may not immediately hook you with flash or star power, it earns attention by steadily building tension and grounding its premise in human stakes.The story revolves around a dangerous, time-sensitive scenario in which lives are on the line and every decision matters. What works surprisingly well is how the film avoids overcomplicating its narrative. Instead of piling on unnecessary twists or exposition, it focuses on the urgency of the situation and the emotional toll it takes on the characters involved. This approach allows the suspense to breathe and feel organic rather than manufactured. You're not overwhelmed-you're pulled in gradually.Direction plays a major role in holding everything together. The filmmaker understands that tension doesn't come from constant explosions or frantic editing, but from atmosphere, pacing, and control. Scenes are allowed to unfold without rushing, and the camera work reinforces the claustrophobic pressure of the situation. The environments feel authentic, which helps sell the realism and keeps the film from slipping into exaggerated action-movie territory.The performances are another strength. While this isn't a showcase of powerhouse acting, the cast delivers solid, believable work. Each character feels like a real person reacting under extreme circumstances rather than a stock archetype. That authenticity makes the danger feel more immediate and the outcomes more meaningful. Even quieter moments carry weight because the actors commit to the tension instead of overplaying it.Where Zero truly succeeds is in its tone. It doesn't pretend to be a massive blockbuster or reinvent the genre. It knows exactly what kind of film it is and stays within those boundaries. That confidence works in its favor. The screenplay is straightforward but effective, focusing on momentum and emotional investment rather than gimmicks. While there are moments where the story could have pushed deeper or taken bigger risks, the film's consistency keeps it engaging.Ultimately, Zero is a solid, respectable thriller. It may not be something you revisit frequently, but it's far better than it initially appears. It proves that even familiar concepts can still work when handled with care, focus, and sincerity. For viewers who enjoy tension-driven films that prioritize atmosphere over excess, Zero is absolutely worth watching.
Reviewed by JvH48 2 / 10

It takes too long to reveal the devious background scheme causing all the violence, thereby rendering it to an action movie without purpose or message

Saw this at the Imagine 2024 film festival in Amsterdam. Apart from good casting/acting and an implicit tour through many areas in Dakar, this appears to be a standard action movie, of which we have seen more than enough. However, if we had known from the start of the devious scheme behind it all, we might have valued the proceedings more ("enjoy" would be a misnomer, given the background story and the violence overload).More background would have allowed us to live along with the two main protagonists. But we know nothing, neither about the underlying setup nor the purpose of their so-called missions. Nor do we know who the two bomb-chained men are. The bombs had a 10-hour times display perfectly in view, visibly counting. That was the only thing obviously clear throughout. And there was a voice in their earpieces telling them what to do (and what to do not).Before knowing the purpose of it all, it is merely a series of useless violence and car/scooter chases while traversing Dakar, just like a standard action movie. If you're a fan of that, be my guest, but it does not work for me. There is no clear goal that must be reached within 10 hours, and the intermediate assignments they received did not help us getting in the proper mood. There was nothing that did help us outguess what was going on. In the process, we met a series of side characters, but nothing was told how they fit in the grand scheme. For a movie marked (among others) as Thriller, such ingredients are dearly missed.Worse, we had a confusing, relatively short intermezzo, marked "Los Angeles 2 weeks ago" in yellow letters before that scene started, where we saw the two same men with the same ticking bombs. It seemed like a break in the narrative and unconnected with the story, were it not that the strategy of cutting wires is discussed. I'm at a loss how this can fit in the story line, being far away from Senegal.But there is a plan, alas not made known to us until the finale. Soon after that revelation, it is implicitly suggested that a similar setup will be executed in Paris soon after, all of that with the sole purpose of raising an upheaval with enormous political consequences. Not until that moment, it became clear why two American citizens, unmistakenly looking like Americans, were chosen for the "missions" they had to carry out. It is indeed a devious schema, causing lots of political turmoil. To conclude: an unforgivable narrative failure.
Reviewed by Dormarth112 7 / 10

Popcorn, Thrills, and Dakar Spills

Highly recommended for anyone craving a high-octane popcorn thriller with a powerful message! I had an absolute blast watching this at the Glasgow Film Festival. The experience was elevated by a Q&A session with the passionate actors and director, whose love for filmmaking was truly inspiring. It reminded me of Crank and similar films, delivering high-octane thrills and great comedy, thanks to the fantastic editing.While I have some minor complaints about certain effects and the slow start of the third act, I'm thrilled to see an indie film with such incredible pacing and style. This is definitely a movie I'll be rewatching with friends! It offers a refreshing perspective on African cinema, as our leading actors romp through the vibrant streets of Dakar.
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