Law Abiding Citizen

Two men break into Clyde Shelton’s home and brutalize and kill his wife and daughter. He wants justice, but the Assistant DA accepts a plea bargain that lets one of the killers off with a light sentence. Furious, Clyde disappears for ten years and then returns to wreak havoc on the broken judicial system and let everyone feel his pain.

The ClearPlay Factor

Law Abiding Citizen contains sadistic violence and around forty ’F’ words and other profanities. ClearPlay trims out the language and violence, including a rape scene, and mutes the brutal nature of the film. The editing does leave some blanks that are answered in later context. Even with filters, just the idea of what is going on is often chilling. Not for the faint of heart.

Can I Abide This Film?…

Without ClearPlay, this movie would be too disturbing to watch. Some may find it too disturbing regardless, though ClearPlay lets elements of the story shine that otherwise would have been overshadowed by the horrific violence. The film is very tense, but you may wonder who to root for or care about as the bodies pile up. If you like revenge flicks such as Taken, you will probably like this one. If you prefer a film with clear-cut white hat heroes who shoot the bad guys rather than mutilate them, look elsewhere.

Brian Fuller—Law Abiding ClearPlay Reviewer

Rated R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language.; 108 min; Directed By F. Gary Gray