AS WE have learned from Training Day and American Gangster, whenever that paragon of goodness Denzel Washington channels his bad side, it is time to pay attention. Though Safe House is not in the same league as those two exalted Denzel-does-deranged offerings, it will certainly give fans of explosive action the blast they are after.
The Washington wacko driving this pulpy freight train of a picture is Tobin Frost, a rogue CIA black-ops man who went off the grid in the late 1990s. Now back in custody of the feds - albeit in a grotty, heavily fortified shack in suburban Cape Town, South Africa - the wily Frost is being prepped for interrogation before facing treason charges back in the US.
Just as Frost's captors are waterboarding some intel out of him, the supposed "safe house" is stormed by masked mercenaries. At the climax of the bloody skirmish that follows, Frost is hauled to safety by the last CIA man left standing, rookie agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds).
With further CIA back-up more than a day away, Weston must scamper all over Cape Town in search of a place to keep Frost out of harm's way.
This is more than enough time for Frost to get inside the head of his newbie handler, persuading him a wider conspiracy involving the US government could be playing out around them.
As you would expect, the sociopathic gravitas so effortlessly dispensed by Washington makes a run-of-the-mill shoot-em-up like Safe House often seem better than it actually is.
Nevertheless, his punishing presence does extract some strong work in response from co-star Reynolds, who can often coast along in movies when not challenged.
Inexperienced director Daniel Espinosa may never become renowned for his tact - too many scenes end in a hail of gunfire - but he does have some talent when it comes to upping the tension ante when required.
Safe House (M)
Director: Daniel Espinosa (Easy Money)
Starring: Denzel Washington (above), Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga
Knock knock! Who's there? Deranged Denzel!
Rating: 3 Stars
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