• Latest
  • Trending
Diablo Review

Diablo Review: Adkins Shines in a Tonally Divided Thriller

She Dances Review

She Dances Review: Art as the Language of the Heart

It's Dorothy! Review

It’s Dorothy! Review: A Documentary With Plenty of Heart, Not Enough Time

Race for the Crown Review

Race for the Crown Review: The Real Race Isn’t on the Track

Deltarune Review

Deltarune Review: Another World in the Storeroom

Our Hero, Balthazar Review

Our Hero, Balthazar Review: There Will Be (Fake) Tears

The Tree of Authenticity Review

The Tree of Authenticity Review: Listening to the Ghosts of the Congo

Dandadan

Dan Da Dan Leans on Ultraman Tricks as Season 2 Streams Worldwide

7 hours ago
The Salt Path

Memoir Uproar Trails Gillian Anderson’s Salt Path Film

7 hours ago
Alzarfa

Saudi Heist Farce Alzarfa Swipes Top Spot from Hollywood Rivals

7 hours ago
The 2025 Munich International Film Festival

A Poet Wins €100 k as Munich Filmfest Crowns 2025 Champions

7 hours ago
James Gunn and Zack Snyder

Animated Cameo Lets Gunn and Snyder Trade Superman Barbs on Rick and Morty

7 hours ago
Peter Sarsgaard

Sarsgaard Brings Neuromancer Buzz and Bride Secrets to Karlovy Vary

7 hours ago
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Monday, July 7, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    The Tree of Authenticity Review

    The Tree of Authenticity Review: Listening to the Ghosts of the Congo

    Dandadan

    Dan Da Dan Leans on Ultraman Tricks as Season 2 Streams Worldwide

    The Salt Path

    Memoir Uproar Trails Gillian Anderson’s Salt Path Film

    Alzarfa

    Saudi Heist Farce Alzarfa Swipes Top Spot from Hollywood Rivals

    The 2025 Munich International Film Festival

    A Poet Wins €100 k as Munich Filmfest Crowns 2025 Champions

    James Gunn and Zack Snyder

    Animated Cameo Lets Gunn and Snyder Trade Superman Barbs on Rick and Morty

    Peter Sarsgaard

    Sarsgaard Brings Neuromancer Buzz and Bride Secrets to Karlovy Vary

    Dear England

    BBC Lines Up Star Squad for Dear England Drama

    Charlize Theron

    Charlize Theron Challenges Hollywood’s Caution on Women-Led Action

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    She Dances Review

    She Dances Review: Art as the Language of the Heart

    It's Dorothy! Review

    It’s Dorothy! Review: A Documentary With Plenty of Heart, Not Enough Time

    Race for the Crown Review

    Race for the Crown Review: The Real Race Isn’t on the Track

    Our Hero, Balthazar Review

    Our Hero, Balthazar Review: There Will Be (Fake) Tears

    Man Finds Tape Review

    Man Finds Tape Review: The Smartest Horror Film of the Year

    Tow Review

    Tow Review: A Fierce and Funny Fight Against a Broken System

    Re-creation Review

    Re-creation Review: Inside a Jury Room Purgatory

    Leads Review

    Leads Review: The Audition That Never Ends

    Goldbeak Review

    Goldbeak Review: An Eagle Among Chickens Seeks His Wings

  • Game Reviews
    Deltarune Review

    Deltarune Review: Another World in the Storeroom

    Tour de France 2025 Review

    Tour de France 2025 Review: Chess on Two Wheels

    Street Fighter 6 Years 1 2 Fighters Edition Review 1

    Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition Review – The Ultimate Portable Fighting Experience

    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Review

    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Review: When Two Worlds Collide on Switch 2

    Camper Van: Make it Home Review

    Camper Van: Make it Home Review: Designing Tranquility

    Dragon is Dead Review

    Dragon is Dead Review: Forging a God from Spare Parts

    Tamagotchi Plaza Review

    Tamagotchi Plaza Review: Nostalgia Isn’t Enough

    Ruffy and the Riverside Review

    Ruffy and the Riverside Review: Swapping Style for Substance

    Rise of Industry 2 Review

    Rise of Industry 2 Review: Capitalism with Consequences

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    The Tree of Authenticity Review

    The Tree of Authenticity Review: Listening to the Ghosts of the Congo

    Dandadan

    Dan Da Dan Leans on Ultraman Tricks as Season 2 Streams Worldwide

    The Salt Path

    Memoir Uproar Trails Gillian Anderson’s Salt Path Film

    Alzarfa

    Saudi Heist Farce Alzarfa Swipes Top Spot from Hollywood Rivals

    The 2025 Munich International Film Festival

    A Poet Wins €100 k as Munich Filmfest Crowns 2025 Champions

    James Gunn and Zack Snyder

    Animated Cameo Lets Gunn and Snyder Trade Superman Barbs on Rick and Morty

    Peter Sarsgaard

    Sarsgaard Brings Neuromancer Buzz and Bride Secrets to Karlovy Vary

    Dear England

    BBC Lines Up Star Squad for Dear England Drama

    Charlize Theron

    Charlize Theron Challenges Hollywood’s Caution on Women-Led Action

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    She Dances Review

    She Dances Review: Art as the Language of the Heart

    It's Dorothy! Review

    It’s Dorothy! Review: A Documentary With Plenty of Heart, Not Enough Time

    Race for the Crown Review

    Race for the Crown Review: The Real Race Isn’t on the Track

    Our Hero, Balthazar Review

    Our Hero, Balthazar Review: There Will Be (Fake) Tears

    Man Finds Tape Review

    Man Finds Tape Review: The Smartest Horror Film of the Year

    Tow Review

    Tow Review: A Fierce and Funny Fight Against a Broken System

    Re-creation Review

    Re-creation Review: Inside a Jury Room Purgatory

    Leads Review

    Leads Review: The Audition That Never Ends

    Goldbeak Review

    Goldbeak Review: An Eagle Among Chickens Seeks His Wings

  • Game Reviews
    Deltarune Review

    Deltarune Review: Another World in the Storeroom

    Tour de France 2025 Review

    Tour de France 2025 Review: Chess on Two Wheels

    Street Fighter 6 Years 1 2 Fighters Edition Review 1

    Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition Review – The Ultimate Portable Fighting Experience

    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Review

    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S Review: When Two Worlds Collide on Switch 2

    Camper Van: Make it Home Review

    Camper Van: Make it Home Review: Designing Tranquility

    Dragon is Dead Review

    Dragon is Dead Review: Forging a God from Spare Parts

    Tamagotchi Plaza Review

    Tamagotchi Plaza Review: Nostalgia Isn’t Enough

    Ruffy and the Riverside Review

    Ruffy and the Riverside Review: Swapping Style for Substance

    Rise of Industry 2 Review

    Rise of Industry 2 Review: Capitalism with Consequences

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
Diablo Review

Best Wishes to All Review: Beneath the Tranquil Surface

Tatami Review: Shot in Stark, Unflinching Black and White

Home Entertainment Movies

Diablo Review: Adkins Shines in a Tonally Divided Thriller

Caleb Anderson by Caleb Anderson
3 weeks ago
in Entertainment, Movies, Reviews
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

The direct-to-video action film has its own distinct rhythm, a pulse I’ve followed since my days renting tapes from the local video store. Diablo immediately taps into that familiar beat. We meet Kris Chaney (Scott Adkins), an ex-convict whose world-weary face tells its own story before he even throws a punch.

He’s been smuggled into the vibrant, sun-drenched landscape of Colombia with a singular, dangerous task. His objective is to abduct Elisa, the daughter of the powerful crime lord Vicente. This isn’t a simple snatch-and-grab for cash.

The film quickly signals that Kris is operating from a place of grim duty, a promise to someone lost that puts him on a collision course with an entire criminal organization. The air is thick with the promise of violence from the opening frame.

The Saint, The Sinner, and The Spectre

The film’s engine is a triangle of well-defined personalities. Scott Adkins portrays Kris Chaney not as an indestructible force, but as a man whose mileage is starting to show. After a fight, you see the exhaustion set in; his power is undeniable, but it comes at a cost, reflecting a welcome maturity in the action hero archetype.

Opposite him, Alana De La Rossa’s Elisa is a revelation. She fiercely rejects the role of a passive victim, meeting her kidnapper with defiance and a few well-aimed kicks of her own. She is a product of a dangerous and privileged world, and her journey from resistance to understanding forms the film’s emotional bedrock.

Then there is El Corvo. Played by Marko Zaror, he is a chilling presence, a specter of death with his bald head, crooked glasses, and a lethal prosthetic hand. He recalls the unstoppable villains of my youth, a Terminator-like figure who is on his own personal mission of revenge against Vicente, making him a truly unpredictable force of nature.

The Brutal Ballet of Practical Mayhem

What elevates Diablo is its absolute commitment to the craft of action. In an age of digital trickery and chaotic editing, director Ernesto Díaz Espinoza gives us something refreshingly tangible. The camera work is energetic, moving with the fighters, but it never descends into the muddled “shaky cam” that plagues so many modern blockbusters. We see every hit. We feel every impact.

Diablo Review

The action design, handled by Zaror himself, is grounded and clever. An early sequence where Kris needs to get a driver out of a car eschews easy solutions; instead of waiting for a mistake, Kris simply smashes the side mirror, forcing a raw, believable confrontation.

The main events between Adkins and Zaror are spectacular, filled with moments like El Corvo punching a thrown beer bottle into shards of glass. Shooting on location in Colombia in broad daylight gives the violence a sharp, immediate quality, making the intricate choreography feel all too real.

A Clash of Tones in a Kingdom of Concrete

For all its technical prowess, the film walks a fine line with its tone. The character of El Corvo is presented with a sadism that feels ported in from a much darker, grimmer film. His cruelty, particularly toward women in scenes that do little to advance the story, creates a repellent atmosphere that sits awkwardly with the movie’s otherwise straightforward action framework.

Diablo Review

This kind of shocking violence can feel like a shortcut to seriousness. This depiction stands in stark contrast to the genuine heart found elsewhere. Adkins gives Kris a soulful sense of regret, while Elisa’s growth from a spoiled brat to a resilient young woman provides a strong emotional anchor.

The film presents a fascinating friction: it offers some of the most satisfyingly constructed fight sequences in recent memory, paired with a villain whose viciousness creates a deeply uncomfortable viewing experience.

Full Credits

Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza

Writers: Mat Sansom, Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Ernesto Díaz Espinoza

Producers: Scott Adkins, Craig Baumgarten, Clay Epstein, Jason Gurvitz, Alvaro Gutierrez

Executive Producers: Barry Brooker, Francisco Carrillo, Pierre-André Rochat, Bill Shadorf, Stan Wertlieb

Cast: Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Alana De La Rossa, Lucho Velasco, Diana Hoyos, Maria del Rosario Barreto, Juan Camilo Castillo, Jason Gurvitz, Jaime Correa, Hamilton Casas, Hedras Urrego

Director of Photography (Cinematographer): Niccolo De La Fere

Editor: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza

Composer: Rocco

The Review

Diablo

6.5 Score

Diablo delivers some of the most expertly crafted action sequences you will see this year, showcasing Scott Adkins in a wonderfully mature role and grounded by clean, effective direction. The fight choreography is a masterclass in practical, bone-crunching spectacle. However, the film is held back by a jarringly vicious antagonist whose extreme cruelty creates a tonal imbalance that is difficult to ignore. It is a film of high peaks and uncomfortable valleys, recommended for action purists who can look past its more unsettling elements.

PROS

  • Expertly choreographed and cleanly shot fight sequences.
  • A grounded, nuanced performance from Scott Adkins.
  • Strong chemistry between the two leads, Kris and Elisa.
  • Excellent use of practical locations and effects.

CONS

  • An excessively sadistic villain creates a jarring, unpleasant tone.
  • The simplistic plot serves mainly to connect action scenes.
  • Some character motivations remain underdeveloped.

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: ActionAlanna De La RossaApple TV+DiabloDiana HoyosErnesto Díaz EspinozaFeaturedJaime CorreaLionsgateLucho VelascoMaria Del Rosario BarretoMarko ZarorMysteryScott AdkinsThriller
Previous Post

Best Wishes to All Review: Beneath the Tranquil Surface

Next Post

Tatami Review: Shot in Stark, Unflinching Black and White

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • Ice Road Vengeance Review

    Ice Road: Vengeance Review – Liam Neeson’s Diminishing Returns Continue

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Stand Your Ground Review: All Action, No Substance

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Man Finds Tape Review: The Smartest Horror Film of the Year

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mix Tape Review: A Story Told on Two Sides of a Cassette

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pretty Thing Review: A Stylish Thriller Without the Thrills

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Heads of State Review: Elba and Cena Carry the Ticket

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Love Island USA Season 7 Review: Summer’s Hottest Guilty Pleasure Returns

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

Street Fighter 6 Years 1 2 Fighters Edition Review 1
Games

Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition Review – The Ultimate Portable Fighting Experience

19 hours ago
Such Brave Girls Season 2 Review 1
Entertainment

Such Brave Girls Season 2 Review: A Feral Examination of Modern British Decay

1 day ago
DanDaDan Season 2 Review
Entertainment

DanDaDan Season 2 Review: Anime’s Bold Evolution Beyond Entertainment

1 day ago
Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado Review
Entertainment

Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado Review: A Surprisingly Profound Journey Into Lost Innocence

2 days ago
The Sandman Season 2 Review
Entertainment

The Sandman Season 2 Review: Portrait of a Ponderous God

2 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely