On Netflix: An action film that lasts less than two hours and is a remake of a masterpiece has just arrived on streaming – Cinema News

Have you ever heard of The Wages of Fear?

Four men have a mission considered impossible: transport trucks loaded with nitroglycerin, a highly explosive substance, to South Africa within 24 hours. Near a refugee camp, there is a burning oil well that threatens the lives of the population present and the only way to stop it is to blow it up. Because of this – and a large sum of money included – four experts are called in to complete this mission – facing dangerous areas and thieves along the way.

For those who don’t know what it’s about, this is the synopsis of The Wages of Fear, a feature film that adapts a widely acclaimed work of the same name. In 1953, Henri-Georges Clouzot brought to life a film that won the Palme d’Or and the Golden Bear – and last month his remake arrived on Netflix.

With an hour and 46 minutes of screen time, the most recent production is of French origin (just like the original) and directed by Julien Leclercq, a filmmaker who has previously worked alongside the streaming giant. Leclercq has proven capable of creating titles that capture the audience’s attention, bringing names like The Sentinel and Braqueurs to the platform.

After its debut at the end of March, The Wages of Fear entered the Top 10 most watched on Netflix worldwide, with a trajectory of increasing popularity. As for criticism, the adaptation has not been winning over experts, appearing on Rotten Tomatoes with just 40% approval. In terms of comparison, the 1953 film won 100% of the audience on the same website.

Thus, critic Chase Hutchinson, from Collider, stated:

“While the original remains a fun, well-made work of art, the new one ends up being nothing more than an empty and extremely stupid approximation of an action movie. Neither exciting nor tense, just disposable.”

For those interested, it is worth mentioning that the original film, unfortunately, is not available for streaming in Brazil.

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