Name: My Name Is Vendetta
Genre: Action, Crime, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 2022-11-30T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Alessandro Gassmann, Ginevra Francesconi, Remo Girone, Alessio Praticò, Francesco Villano

The opening shot of My Name Is Vendetta is a brutal, unflinching close-up: blood spatter hitting the lens like rain as Santo’s family is gunned down. Director Cosimo Gomez doesn’t waste time establishing his film’s DNA—this is a revenge thriller that knows its genre tropes and leans into them with relentless energy.

Alessandro Gassmann’s Santo is a classic action hero in the making, though Gassmann himself lacks the physical magnetism of an Arnie or Stallone. His performance is solid but unremarkable, anchoring the film with a grounded intensity that keeps Santo from becoming a cartoonish avenger. The real revelation is Ginevra Francesconi as Sofia, Santo’s hockey-playing daughter. Her fiery defiance and emotional vulnerability give the film its heart, particularly in scenes where she grapples with her father’s violent past.

The action sequences are the film’s strongest suit, choreographed with a gritty realism that feels refreshingly unpolished compared to Hollywood spectacles. A standout set piece involves Sofia narrowly escaping a hitman in a Milan subway station, using her hockey skills to outmaneuver him. The sequence is tense, inventive, and shot with an intimate handheld camera that puts the audience right in the action.

Where My Name Is Vendetta stumbles is in its attempts at emotional depth. The father-daughter dynamic is compelling, but the film’s pacing leaves little room for nuanced character development. Scenes of Santo and Sofia bonding over shared meals or late-night conversations feel rushed, undercutting their impact. Additionally, the film’s attempt to explore themes of redemption through Santo’s criminal past often feels heavy-handed, leaning on exposition rather than subtle storytelling.

The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Remo Girone delivers a memorable turn as Angelo Lo Bianco, Santo’s old boss, exuding quiet menace with every word. However, other characters—like Francesco Villano’s Rudi Crisarà—feel one-dimensional, serving little purpose beyond advancing the plot.

Gomez’s direction is competent but uninspired, relying too heavily on familiar tropes and clichés. The film’s Milan setting is underutilized, with few standout visuals or atmospheric shots that could have elevated the material. The score, while serviceable, lacks the distinctiveness needed to make My Name Is Vendetta feel like more than just another revenge thriller.

Ultimately, My Name Is Vendetta is a solid but unremarkable entry in the genre. It delivers on its core promise of thrilling action and emotional stakes, but it fails to rise above the crowd with any real originality or depth.