In her most action-packed role since Desperado (1995) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), prolific actress Salma Hayek stars as the titular star in Everly. Released by Dimension Films on January 23rd, 2015 in the United States, Everly is an edge-of-the-seat Action Thriller. Written by Yale Hannon (Big Love 2009, Parenthood 2010-2011) and Joe Lynch (Chillerama 2011), who also directed, Everly was filmed at Pink’s Studios in Simanovci, Belgrade, Serbia. Set in modern day, and taking place in an unidentified city, the events in Everly all take place within an apartment building. Hayek is at her best, perhaps even better than her appearance as the drug lord Elena in Savages (2012) as Everly, a reluctant but tough prostitute. She is not just any prostitute, she happens to be a favorite of ruthless Mafia/Yakuza boss Taiko (Hiroyuki Watanabe: Makai tenshô: The Armageddon 1999, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack 2001).
- Still from Everly
At the beginning of the film, Everly has been savagely beaten and abused. Locked in the bathroom with a gun in her hand, she faces a difficult decision; kill herself and end her pain, or take some of those who have inflicted said pain out first. In a split second, Everly reexamines her pitiful life and decides to go out fighting. Her decision results in her apartment being full of dead people who tried to kill her, and the worst part is, there will be more coming. One of the men sits dying on Everly’s couch, who she aptly names Dead Man (Akie Kotabe: The November Man 2014, The Assets series 2014). He provides Everly with some reasons as to why his life was full of violence, and some dark comic relief. As he witnesses Everly’s strength and bravery, Dead Man begins to empathize with her and watches in a helpless state the slaughter before him.
- Still from Everly
Everly was ready to face her fate until Taiko advises her that unless she relents he will also kill her mother, and do to her daughter, Maisey (Aisha Ayamah: Language is Music 2008), what he did to Everly. Obviously, this throws Everly’s plan into a tail spin. This, combined with the fact her mother and daughter have not seen or heard from Everly in four years, assuming her dead already, Everly’s day becomes even more complicated. Her reappearance causes upheaval for more than just her child, as Everly’s horrific and violent past is revealed, layer by layer, and it is difficult not to feel empathy for her or the other women that are in similar situations. These such other women in the apartment building are also pushed by Taiko to kill Everly to save themselves. Very soon, Everly is fighting tooth and nail with whatever she can lay her hands on to survive against those she once called friends. Everly manages to convince her mother to visit her at the apartment building so Everly can protect them, but what will happen if they even make it there? Every turn Everly makes brings her closer to the fate she has readily accepted, but she goes kicking and screaming. Driven by a mother’s love for her child, and her need to protect her, Everly fights against all odds right up until the bloody end where she must face the man that brought her there to begin with.
- Still from Everly
Fast-paced with plenty of blood and gore, as well as plenty of black humor, Everly is a pleasant surprise. It has a unique storyline that delves into a troubling dark existence with little hope for a happy ending. Seamless and incredible special effects complement the gritty, edgy cinematography by Steve Gainer (Awkward series, Happyland series). Everly captures a style similar to Tarantino movies with some stylized violence that fits effortless with the rest of the film. Exceptionally acted by a veteran and up-and-coming cast that captures the vision of Hannon and Lynch. While it may not have gotten rave reviews at the time by critics, Everly has the potential to be a cult classic. There is plenty of flash and bang which does not overshadow the explosive story line. Hayek portrays Everly with a great deal of depth and a heck load of intensity. A must watch for all Action fans. Everly is now available on Blu-ray/DVD via Anchor Bay as of April 21st. CrypticRock gives Everly 5 out of 5 stars.
- Dimension Films
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