Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man (2021) is a revenge-driven action thriller starring Jason Statham, filled with Ritchie’s signature grit, violence, and a slow-burn storytelling style that pieces the puzzle together in non-linear fashion. The film combines a tense heist plot with a personal vendetta, delivering a stylish yet brutal narrative.
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The New Guard at Fortico Security
The film opens with a high-stakes armored truck robbery that ends in bloodshed. Soon after, we’re introduced to a mysterious man named Patrick Hill, or simply “H” (Jason Statham), who gets hired by Fortico Security, a private company that transports cash. At first, H comes across as a slightly clumsy recruit, barely passing the tests. But soon, he shocks everyone when a robbery attempt unfolds—he singlehandedly kills every attacker with ruthless precision, revealing deadly combat skills that far exceed those of a regular security guard.
The Reputation of “H”
Within Fortico, H earns the reputation of being a quiet but highly dangerous man. His colleagues begin to question his past, with whispers that he may have been part of the military, or worse. His stoic nature keeps him at arm’s length, but it’s clear he’s not working there just to drive trucks—he’s searching for something.
The Criminal Puzzle
The story shifts perspectives, revealing that the armored truck robberies are connected to a crew of ex-military men who now operate as a professional heist team. They’ve been targeting Fortico trucks specifically, and one such robbery turned fatal for H’s son. Through flashbacks, we discover that H is a powerful crime boss who had been surveilling his son during a ride-along in one of the trucks. When the heist turned violent, his son was killed, and H was severely wounded.
This moment becomes the driving force of the movie: H infiltrates Fortico not to earn a living, but to track down the people responsible for his son’s murder.
The Inside Job
As the threads pull tighter, H identifies that someone inside Fortico has been feeding information to the robbers. Suspicion grows, and paranoia spreads among employees. The robbers, led by the cold and calculating Jackson (Jeffrey Donovan) and the volatile Jan (Scott Eastwood), set their sights on one last massive job—a Christmas cash run.
⇢ VIRAL RIGHT NOW
Movie Ending
The climactic heist unfolds with surgical precision. The robbers stage a full-scale assault on Fortico’s cash reserves, killing guards and sparing no one. Inside help makes the operation possible, but things spiral out of control.
Jan, the most unstable member of the crew, betrays his team, murdering Jackson and escaping with the money. Meanwhile, H intercepts him. In a cold and methodical sequence, H confronts Jan in his apartment.
H forces Jan to relive the crime by echoing the words Jan spoke during the robbery that killed H’s son. This chilling moment makes it crystal clear: H isn’t just here to kill Jan, he’s here to deliver poetic justice. After cornering him, H shoots Jan in the liver, spleen, and lungs—the same wounds his son sustained—before delivering the final shot to the heart.
The film ends with H walking away in silence, his vengeance complete, though his future remains uncertain. The revenge is deeply personal and devastating, leaving no room for redemption or forgiveness.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Wrath of Man does not feature any post-credits or mid-credits scenes. Once the credits roll, the story is concluded.
Type of Movie
The movie is a crime thriller with strong elements of heist film and revenge drama. Unlike some of Guy Ritchie’s more playful works, Wrath of Man is darker, colder, and more restrained, leaning closer to noir than comedy.
Cast
- Jason Statham as Patrick Hill (H)
- Scott Eastwood as Jan
- Jeffrey Donovan as Jackson
- Holt McCallany as Bullet
- Josh Hartnett as Boy Sweat Dave
- Eddie Marsan as Terry
- Andy García as Agent King
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Christopher Benstead, who also worked with Ritchie on The Gentlemen. The music is moody, heavy, and foreboding, often relying on deep strings and slow-building tension rather than bombastic action cues. It mirrors H’s relentless focus and grim determination.
Filming Locations
- London, UK – many interior and city sequences
- Los Angeles, USA – several exterior shots, giving the film a hybrid UK/US feel
The locations emphasize the gritty, urban environment, highlighting both the sprawling metropolis and the suffocatingly enclosed spaces of armored truck depots and underground vaults.
⇢ KEEP UP WITH THE TREND
Awards and Nominations
The film did not secure major awards, but it was noted for:
- Praise of its action choreography and darker tone compared to typical heist thrillers.
- Statham’s performance as one of his more controlled and menacing roles.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie reunited after two decades, their last major collaboration being Snatch (2000).
- The film is based on the 2004 French movie “Le Convoyeur” (Cash Truck), though Ritchie’s version is much darker.
- Statham did most of his stunt work, especially in close-quarters combat scenes.
- The crew studied real armored truck operations to make the security details feel authentic.
Inspirations and References
- Directly inspired by “Le Convoyeur”, though restructured in a non-linear narrative typical of Guy Ritchie.
- Influences from 1970s revenge thrillers and westerns are evident in the film’s pacing and mood.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No official alternate endings have been released, though reports suggest there were longer character sequences for Fortico employees that were cut to tighten the pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film is not based on a book but rather a French movie. Unlike the French version, Ritchie’s take focuses heavily on vengeance, shifting the story from a mystery-thriller to a cold revenge narrative.
⇢ MOST SHARED RIGHT NOW
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The first robbery where H reveals his lethal combat skills.
- The flashback of H’s son being killed during a heist.
- The Christmas job going terribly wrong.
- H’s final confrontation with Jan in his apartment.
Iconic Quotes
- H: “When I do bear a grudge… you’ll die.”
- H (to Jan): “Liver, spleen, lungs… and finally, heart.”
- Bullet: “You’re not what you seem, H. Not by a long shot.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The company name Fortico is an allusion to “fortified,” playing into the idea of false security.
- Ritchie inserts subtle callbacks to his past crime films, such as small character nicknames reminiscent of Snatch and Lock, Stock.
- The number of shots H fires at Jan mirrors the wounds inflicted on his son.
Trivia
- Jason Statham trained with real ex-military consultants to perfect the tactical movements.
- Guy Ritchie has said this is his “coldest” film—no jokes, no comic relief.
- The film grossed over $100 million worldwide despite COVID-era releases.
Why Watch?
If you’re looking for a dark revenge thriller with Jason Statham at his most cold-blooded, Wrath of Man delivers. It’s less flashy than Ritchie’s other movies, but its intensity, atmosphere, and calculated brutality make it stand out among modern heist films.
Director’s Other Movies
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
- Snatch (2000)
- Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
- The Gentlemen (2019)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Heat (1995)
- The Town (2010)
- Den of Thieves (2018)
- Man on Fire (2004)
- John Wick (2014)