As I stumbled upon the 2021 action thriller "Take Back" here in 2021, I opted to sit down and watch it immediately as it had Michael Jai White on the cast list. Sure, I hadn't even heard about the movie prior to watching, but that hardly mattered, as it was a movie that I hadn't already seen.

"Take Back" is a story about a daughter kidnapped by a sex trafficking ring and the parents struggle to save their beloved child. So writer Zach Zerries didn't really revolutionize the genre here with this particular movie, as it felt rather generic and offered nothing new or innovative. That being said, don't get me wrong, because "Take Back" was watchable enough, albeit somewhat generic at that.

Sure it was nice to see Michael Jai White in the movie, despite him not being the first lead performer. I wasn't familiar with Gillian White, but she definitely carried herself in the movie quite well. The movie also had James Russo on the cast list, and it was a shame that he wasn't given more on-screen time. And then there was Mickey Rourke, well, let's just move along.

I found it to be adequate for a single viewing, but that was also about it. Director Christian Sesma didn't manage to churn out an action thriller with enough contents to warrant more than just that single viewing. And the movie's cover/poster oversold the movie quite a bit, as there wasn't that kind of dramatic car chase in the movie.

My rating of "Take Back" lands on a four out of ten stars, as there are far better movies in this particular genre out there.

This was an awful attempt at a thriller that singularly wastes the talents of Michael Jai White, one of the toughest fighters working in B-movie cinema today. He plays a guy whose daughter is kidnapped by people smugglers, led by Mickey Rourke, looking unrecognisable in an extended cameo. The plot is muddled, the budget non-existent, the fight scenes disappointing; next, please!

Daughter (Priscilla Walker) taken by sex traffickers. Mom (Gillian White ) and dad (Michael Jai White) who both know martial arts have to get her back. The "twist" is mom was once a prisoner of the same guy.

Mickey Rourke reminded me of Ozzy without the accent. Girls were kept in a shed, not the idea spot for sex traffickers. They have very loose tie-wraps on their wrists. Nothing looked realistic. Action scenes lacked a Liam Neeson hurt aspect.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.