A perfect ode to the close of the season, “Dredd” is visually compelling, darkly humorous and gratifyingly violent. Though about as deep as a shower puddle, this 98-minute roller coaster of unfiltered brutality has everything one would come to expect from a summer action flick.
Set in an apocalyptic future where 800 million people are cramped into the aptly named Mega-City One, “Dredd” follows the journey of the self-titled protagonist as he infiltrates a 200-story apartment complex in an attempt to take down the reigning drug lord of the city, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey).
Known as “Slo-Mo,” this newly distributed drug slows the user’s perception of time to 1 percent and offers some of the most aesthetically appealing sequences in the film.
Director Pete Travis executes these mesmerizingly colorful sequences with a steady hand and makes sure to keep the special effects tasteful, not cheesy.
Lead actor Karl Urban does a good job with Judge Dredd as well. Though covered in full body armor and a large helmet for almost the entire film, Urban brings a much-welcomed tongue-in-cheek style of humor as he remains lethargic and unresponsive in the midst of the hyper violence that surrounds him.
Based off the science fiction comic strip “2000 AD,” “Dredd” should not be grouped with the more family-friendly superhero films like this summer’s “The Avengers” and “The Amazing Spider Man.” Unforgivingly ruthless and refreshingly self-aware, “Dredd” does what it sets out to do exceedingly well.
Rather than inducing a sense of dread, as the title might suggest, the movie offers a new take on the superhero genre.
Dive verdict: 3.5 of 5 stars
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