REVIEW: “The Bluff” (2026)

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Just a few weeks ago, Prime Video dropped “The Wrecking Crew,” a fun action comedy that honestly felt like a movie built for the big screen. And now, another one, “Bottoms,” has landed on the platform, and I can totally picture it doing really well in theaters. It’s a bit of a shame as a film lover to not get that theater experience, but both films seem to be hitting it big for Prime Video, so I guess this is just the way things are going now.

“The Bluff” is a fast-paced, action-filled pirate movie that blends the excitement of classic swashbucklers with the gritty, violent style of older B-movies. Director Frank E. Flowers delivers a unique take on the genre, stripping away the typical romanticized elements to create a high-energy, straightforward adventure – a type of pirate film we don’t often see anymore.

“The Bluff,” written by Flowers and Joe Ballarini, takes place in 1846, a time when the age of Caribbean pirates was fading. The remaining pirates are the most ruthless, including the infamous Captain Francisco Connor, played with a mischievous energy by Karl Urban. The film opens with Connor’s large ship capturing a smaller vessel. His crew plunders the ship and kills everyone except for one survivor, T.H. Bodden (Ismael Cruz Córdova), who has a gold bar stamped with Connor’s symbol.

Having reviewed the ship’s records, Connor confidently instructs his first mate to navigate to the small island of Cayman Brac. He’s convinced that T.H. stashed the remaining gold there. Cayman Brac is a peaceful British colony with a close-knit community, including T.H.’s wife, Ercell, and their son, Isaac, as well as Ercell’s sister-in-law, Elizabeth. They are all hoping for T.H.’s return.

Things take a dark turn when Connor and his crew show up, immediately throwing the island into a whirlwind of violence. He makes it clear – nobody’s leaving until he gets what he wants. But his siege doesn’t just threaten the islanders; it digs up a painful past Ercell has been desperately trying to forget. What follows is a brutal, action-packed fight for survival, as Ercell fights to protect her loved ones and finally confront the man who wronged her. It’s a bloody showdown, and she’s ready to settle the score.

Zoe Saldaña was initially chosen for the role, but Priyanka Chopra Jones truly shines as Ercell. She brings a powerful physicality and fierce energy to the character, making it entirely her own. The action sequences are beautifully filmed and expertly planned, often with a raw intensity that adds to the excitement. Chopra Jones is compelling in every scene, whether she’s fighting with her fists or a sword. Karl Urban also delivers a delightfully wicked and engaging performance as the villain, clearly enjoying every moment.

I really enjoyed watching “The Bluff”! It’s packed with exciting action and visually stunning scenes. While the story itself is fairly simple, it doesn’t matter because the movie is full of familiar and talented actors, and the 1970s setting feels incredibly authentic – it was cool to learn they filmed in Queensland, Australia, standing in for the Cayman Islands! Even though it’s not a super complex plot, the movie keeps moving at a great pace and never feels slow or like it’s repeating itself. Honestly, it was a surprisingly intense and gripping experience, and I was entertained the whole time.

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2026-03-05 18:57