Jakarta. The “Hounds of War” sounds like the title of a good action-packed movie, but the one-hour-and-a-half film starring Frank Grillo turns out to be a total snoozefest. 

Directed by Isaac Florentine, “Hounds of War” follows the story of a group of mercenaries --including protagonist Ryder (Frank Grillo)-- sent on a trap mission. Ryder is the only survivor and decides to avenge his team. 

Avenging his brothers becomes Ryder’s main motivation as the protagonist. However, the movie’s biggest sin is to not properly introduce the mercenaries besides Ryder -- as seen in a recent press screening.

At the beginning, Ryder gets called for another mission. Ryder appears to have wanted to retire, and seems to be close with the boys -- as seen in how the others warmly greet him as soon as he arrives at the villa.

The “Hounds of War” kills off his entire team pretty early in the film without giving them a proper introduction. So when they struggle or die on the battlefield, I find it hard to feel sorry or even root for them. The movie doesn't give the audience enough time to get acquainted (or even memorize the team’s faces) before they die on a mission.

"Hounds of War" tries to stir the viewers' emotions when Ryder's brother sacrifices himself on the battlefield. This becomes a pivotal scene that will be replayed in a flashback later on to show how the incident emotionally affects Ryder. But again, it fails to spur some genuine emotions in the audience. 

This is the beginning of the end for “Hounds of War”.

It lacks a well-established set-up, and the rest of the movie feels like an excuse for you to grab some theater popcorn. 

The movie has plentiful action scenes, but the editing choices fail to keep one’s blood pumped. Many of the combat scenes --particularly ones that involve kicks-- are fast-forwarded. The acting department --even by the main star Grillo-- is not memorable. 

The only saving grace to “Hounds of War” is the beauty shots of Malta. You will notice a lot of wide shots of the country --showcasing its distinctive architecture and blue waters-- slapped throughout the entire movie. Even the opening credits --which feels a bit longer than usual-- purely focus on Malta’s scenery without giving the audience a glimpse into Ryder’s life or what the plot will be about. 

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