Get ready for a movie experience that might just leave you scratching your head: Worldbreaker is set to hit select theaters on January 30.
January has a reputation for being a dumping ground for lackluster films, but Worldbreaker, featuring the talents of Luke Evans, takes this trend to a whole new level. Directed by Brad Anderson—who has previously helmed films like Session 9 and The Machinist—Worldbreaker is touted as a post-apocalyptic sci-fi action flick. However, I use the term "touted" loosely, as the film fails to deliver on the promised action, sci-fi elements, or even a credible post-apocalyptic setting due to its apparent budget constraints and lack of ambition.
To provide some context, Worldbreaker unfolds in a world ravaged by a dimensional rupture known as "The Stitch," which opened up years prior and unleashed monsters referred to as "Breakers." These creatures resemble alien zombies equipped with spider-like appendages and have an insatiable desire to kill anything that crosses their path; they even indulge in sinister laughter while stalking their prey (yes, really). Despite being seemingly impervious to bullets, these Breakers can be dispatched using medieval weaponry like swords and axes—presumably because that's just cooler. They also have the unsettling ability to infect humans through bites or scratches, transforming them into "hybrids," though these hybrids inexplicably lack the spider legs. Strangely, women sometimes don’t succumb to this transformation, while men always do. Don’t ask me to clarify that inconsistency.
While it would have been nice for the Breakers to serve as compelling antagonists, their screen time is disappointingly minimal. Instead, the narrative focuses primarily on the father-daughter dynamic between Willa (played by Billie Boullet) and her unnamed father (Luke Evans), who takes on multiple roles including narrator, combat instructor, and the obligatory Joel-esque character that seems mandatory in every modern post-apocalyptic tale. Willa's mother, portrayed by Milla Jovovich, is depicted as a formidable warrior leading the fight against the Breakers; however, her presence in the film is nearly as scant as that of her husband, leaving much to be desired.
If all this sounds perplexing, you’re not alone. Worldbreaker sets up numerous expectations yet manages to disappoint on every front. A thrilling scene featuring Milla Jovovich battling monsters with a gigantic sword? You might catch a glimpse of that—if you’re lucky—during a fleeting 30 seconds. The supposed family drama centered around surviving in a world teeming with zombie-like entities doesn’t quite pan out, especially since much of the film showcases Willa and her dad living isolated on an island, far removed from the Breakers. As for the anticipated hero's journey where Willa steps up to save the day in place of her parents? That arc fizzles out before it can reach any significant resolution, resulting in what feels more like a tedious 90-minute introduction to a story we never get to see.
Luke Evans attempts to lend weight to the film with his speeches about legendary warriors who have faced the Breakers in bygone days, but these merely serve to remind the audience of scenes they would prefer to witness firsthand. Boullet does a decent job, but she’s trapped in yet another iteration of the clichéd young adult heroine we’ve seen countless times done better in other films. And if you’re considering watching this because you’re a fan of Jovovich, brace yourself for disappointment; although she's synonymous with action-packed B-movies, she gets sidelined after the first 20 minutes, embarking on a battle against the Breakers that we don’t get to witness. The disparity between her prominence on promotional materials and her limited role in the actual film is almost a call for a false advertising lawsuit, reminiscent of the case involving Ana de Armas in Yesterday.
Additionally, the thematic substance of Worldbreaker is alarmingly shallow. Although there are some ideas present, they are so poorly fleshed out that it’s challenging to commend the film. The narrative hints at a gender dynamic where women exhibit greater resistance to hybrid infection, suggesting they may be better suited for combat roles in society, but this notion falls flat due to the lack of representation of women actively fighting the Breakers. There is a passing mention of the need for younger generations to hear tales of great heroes to inspire hope in dire times, yet Willa never experiences a genuine crisis that requires her to seek that hope, leading to an unsatisfactory conclusion devoid of a true climax. The abrupt cut to credits is both baffling and frustrating, leaving viewers in a state of confusion.
I genuinely want to be fair, considering it’s evident the filmmakers lacked the financial backing and resources to create the vision they aimed for. However, what remains is a soggy appetizer for a sequel that will almost certainly never materialize.
In summary, Worldbreaker is a forgettable direct-to-video action film that doesn’t even manage to meet the most basic genre expectations. Fans of Milla Jovovich, in particular, will feel let down by her limited involvement in the final product. With hardly any depth, excitement, or scares, it’s simply not worth the time of even the most desperate enthusiasts of sci-fi action.
