Collide is nothing but mindless action built around a threadbare plot

It's a series of car chases in a desperate search for a story yet is unable to find the reason for its own existence.

A number of subpar elements come together to form the film Collide. It is an action caper that covers the ground from frustrating inconsistency to mind-numbing stupidity within its 99 minutes of running time.


The movie remained shelved for years (due to Relativity Media’s bankruptcy), a fate that was quite appropriate for such a shoddy project.

Felicity Jones in Collide (2016)Photo: IMDb

Two British actors play American characters who have moved to Germany in the movie. A reformed car thief turned drug dealer Casey (Nicholas Hoult) and a bartender Juliette (Felicity Jones) fall for each other, as the former gives up his criminal ways to pursue a relationship with the lead actress. But when Juliette is struck with an illness and needs an expensive medical procedure, Casey decides to get the money by taking on one last job for his former boss Geran (Ben Kingsley). Geran, as it turns out, wants to settle a score with brutal kingpin Hagen Kahl (Anthony Hopkins) and plans to get back at him by stealing his drug shipment.

Nicholas Hoult in Collide (2016)Photo: IMDb

But the heist doesn’t go as planned, and Casey finds himself being pursued by Kahl’s men, while trying to save himself as well as the woman he loves.

From there on, the film turns into a series of car chases in a desperate search for a story yet it is unable to find the reason for its own existence.

Aleksandar Jovanovic, Clemens Schick, Erdal Yildiz, Johnny Palmiero in Collide (2016)Photo: IMDb

As the film stumbles on, it gives us no real reason to root for its characters, be absorbed in the action, or invested in anyone’s fate. Eran Creevy’s direction is erratic, the characters are bland, and the acting is unimpressive.

Nicholas Hoult and Aleksandar Jovanovic in Collide (2016)Photo: IMDb

Majority of the film finds good actors delivering bad performances; Hoult and Jones are dull. It’s sad to see the likes of the great Hopkins and Kingsley attached to such a poor project; although you still have to give some props to Kingsley, because even though his character is an over the top caricature, he still seems fiercely committed to the ridiculous role.

If you’re in the mood for some mindless action built around a threadbare plot, then Collide fits the bill. Otherwise, you’re very likely to find this film downright disappointing.