
Safe House
2012, Mystery and thriller/Action, 1h 55m
193 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Safe House stars Washington and Reynolds are let down by a thin script and choppily edited action sequences. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Tobin Frost
Matt Weston
Catherine Linklater
David Barlow
Harlan Whitford
Carlos Villar
News & Interviews for Safe House
Critic Reviews for Safe House
All Critics (193) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (102) | Rotten (91)
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Though it's not a premise we haven't seen played out before on the silver screen, Safe House is a movie that sucks you in, guts you, and spits you out at the end.
September 8, 2017 | Rating: B- | Full Review… -
[Safe House] is utterly predictable stuff, in case you haven't already figured that out by now.
August 14, 2017 | Full Review… -
The film's super-saturated look and quick cutting are mere substitutes for any real sense of intrigue.
February 26, 2012 | Full Review… -
Car chases, brutal fight scenes and much ancillary action crowd the story, but there's little to detain the brain as far as script or characterisation go.
February 24, 2012 | Full Review… -
There are so many muscly, gun-toting guys having bloody brawls, it looks like some online research has been carried out to see what niche audience might appreciate this film most.
February 23, 2012 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review… -
There's much to be said for nuts-and-bolts action thrillers when they are competently assembled. But this one is falling apart at the fastenings.
February 23, 2012 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Safe House
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Aug 15, 2017Safe House is a well acted action thriller. I mean if you are going to bring in Ryan Reynolds, Denzel Washington, Brendan Gleeson and Vera Farmiga...you're pretty much halfway to making a good film. Yet somehow this still fell short from being great. We follow Washington who plays a dangerous renegade with important information. On the run from mercenaries that raided a safe house, Reynolds attempts to prove himself by bringing him in. Full of espionage, double crossing and a damn convoluted plot in an attempt to make it engaging. But in actual fact, it's just generic. If you've watched this, then you'll probably remember nothing about the story. Seriously, give it a shot. Acting though was spot on. Washington and Reynolds made for an uneasy chemistry and the two work well together. Kind of like a master and his apprentice, except this master is on the opposite side of the law to his apprentice. Farmiga, criminally underrated by the way, was underused. Her character was pretty much pointless which infuriates me every time I watch this. Gleeson was good, but again was underused until the final act. The action scenes were great, the first act is definitely the most lively. A car crash, a raided safe house and a car chase in Cape Town. It was exhilarating and Daniel Espinosa filmed it rather well. Sound mixing was noteworthy, the gun shots were loud and piercing which always gets me pumped when watching an action flick. The locations were varied, from the streets of Cape Town to a football stadium filled with hooligans playing vuvuzelas (do you remember them? Flipping awful things). Just nothing felt fresh. It's a "been there done that" scenario too scared to try something new in case the film doesn't make back its budget. If the plot was engaging, this would've been a great surprise but sadly it's just good. Entirely watchable and well crafted, but nothing outstanding.Luke A Super Reviewer
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Dec 13, 2016Decent if typical Hollywood action thriller with by now obligatory rah-rah underpinnings. By the numbers. Picked out the surprise twist ending bad guy in under 2 minutes. The cast simply needs to show up and be charming, and this much they manage. There's no real teeth here though.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Jan 30, 2016A very under appreciated film that yes the script could of been abit better but Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds performance and pretty good action scenes make up for it, The story was good but kind of a missed opportunity, But still a good action thriller.Jamie C Super Reviewer
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Oct 08, 2015Half the film is ripped off The Rock, the other half is cobbled together from some left over 90's action movie script.Marcus W Super Reviewer
Safe House Quotes
Tobin Frost: | I'm already in your head. |
Tobin Frost: | "Too long a sacrifice. Can make a stone of the heart. O' when may it suffice?" |
Tobin Frost: | Too long a sacrifice. Can make a stone of the heart. O' when may it suffice? |
CIA Analyst: | You have enemies? Good. That means youâ??ve stood up for something, sometime in your life - Winston Churchill |
CIA Analyst: | You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. |
Tobin Frost: | I'm your only enemy tonight |
Tobin Frost: | I'm your only enemy tonight. |
Tobin Frost: | I'm not your only enemy tonight. |
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