Thirteen years have passed with no sight of a sequel. So I think it’s safe to say it isn’t getting a sequel, which is a tragedy. Ultimately it bombed at the box office, no doubt linked to a limited 3D release, but that doesn’t stop me being angry at “the industry” for not creating a follow up. Dredd is an image of it’s protagnoist, pleasingly straightforward and stubborn in it’s approach.
Urban’s egoless performance of Dredd is unyielding and stoic, all small shrugs and snarled lips. Whilst Stallone yelled “I AM THE LAW”, here it’s an aggressive whisper; less a threat, more a promise. He’s an enigma, with only inference and quick references hinting at his status and history. Dredd is immune to change, so our window into this world is his rookie partner Andersen. She’s a great foil, providing an emotional balance to her legendary assessor.
What terrifies me most is none of it fazes Dredd. Gangs, corruption, and general indifference are rife throughout not just this building, but the sector and world beyond. Is this normal, or is Dredd just that committed/crazy? Again I’m reminded how much of a shame it is that we’ll never see more of this world.
There’s a shimmering beauty to the violence, with the slo-mo drug slowing perception to 1% of normal time. Some clever colour and angle choices make even a bullet passing through a face something to enjoy! This film may have had a basic premise, but it was far from basic in it’s style and presentation. But then there’s the 3D, which is obvious in it’s implementation, awkward, and was no doubt part of it’s weak theatrical outing.
Everyone involved in this film knew what they wanted, and nailed it. Dredd is an uncompromising, violent, and hyper-realistic story that introduces a definitive take on the character.
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