‘Blackout’ (2026) Movie Review: This Promising Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Is Devoid Of Tension

It is perfectly acceptable for a trope-heavy actioner to stick to rudimentary genre expectations. More so if it’s an indie offering that aims to thoroughly entertain, minus the scope for creative risks or an experimental approach to form. David M Parks (“Static Codes”) and LeeAnne Bauer’s “Blackout” leans towards the safety that comes with time-tested genre films, as it works with the immediate aftermath of a nuclear crisis that tears a nation apart. 

The scope here is more intimate, as we follow former Army Special Forces operatives Noah Daniels (Tyler James) and Ella (Bauer), whose attempts at embracing mundanity are cruelly disrupted by an unexpected catastrophe. Within this personal framework, Parks and Bauer attempt to create a cauldron of simmering anxiety, with the titular blackout bringing out the worst in humanity. While this attempt is more than serviceable, “Blackout” suffers from a lack of coherent stakes and a refusal to flesh out its characters beyond its urgent premise. 

“Blackout” opens with a live news report intercut with footage of rising tensions between America and China, etching out an uncertain (if wishy washy) scenario of impending war. News broadcasts warn civilians about the complete breakdown of expected societal regulations, and martial law is declared even before Noah and Ella have the time to acclimatize. The couple seems eager to put their violent (and traumatic) military pasts behind them and open a new business, but this unprecedented national emergency throws all plans off-kilter. Elsewhere, drunk Spec Ops veteran Knox (Omar Moustafa Ghonim) is apprehended by local militia, who let him go after an aggressive verbal stand-off that’s mostly one-sided. The militia boss asks one of his thugs to keep an eye on Knox — a rather arbitrary impulse that doesn’t really pay off in the catastrophe to come. 

While these events are brewing, we meet military veteran Atticus Reed (Mike Ferguson) and his wife Aisha (Twana Barnett), who are planning to get their hands on a crypto ledger: a USB drive with $12 million hidden inside a certain warehouse. After Atticus crosses paths with Noah, Ella, and Knox (along with Vu Mai’s Cai, whose intriguing character quirks feel wasted), violence ensues. These action-oriented sequences are crafted well enough, boasting impressive stuntwork that introduces a slasher-esque element (involving a chainsaw!) for a split second. The worst happens right at the cusp of this conflict, as a nuclear blast leaves everyone disoriented, compelling a wounded Atticus to infiltrate the warehouse, where Noah and co. are currently trying to survive. 

On paper, “Blackout” should work as a taut, albeit straightforward action thriller, where we are put in the shoes of trained professionals who must rely on their instincts to make the most out of an impossible situation. To that end, it has all the ingredients that a fast-paced snapshot of an isolated tragedy would require, underscoring the themes of survival in a lawless world. But the film’s interest in exploring these themes is half-baked, present only in glimpses when we see how the youth reacts to the news of an impending apocalypse. Parks and Bauer shine when we dwell in this peripheral (but integral) worldbuilding, where groups of apathetic young people choose to distance themselves from politics, deluding themselves that they’re somehow insulated from harm. As they soon discover, they’re not. 

Due to the absence of consistent worldbuilding, “Blackout” isn’t able to convey a sense of coherence, even when we’re inside the small warehouse space that becomes the site of action after the blast. Roofs cave in, weapons are assembled, and fatal punches land on armed bodies, but character motivations feel thin beyond what’s tacked onto the present. Why wouldn’t a veteran like Atticus scope out a building before a heist, or carry out a rudimentary investigation before risking his life? What does the local militia hope to achieve beyond the thrill of indiscriminate violence, when there is no one in Southern California to oppress and rule over? Even if we sideline these questions, “Blackout” only works in bursts, excelling in physical confrontation that is sadly robbed of immediacy without a compelling emotional throughline to ground them. 

FAQ — Blackout (2024)

What is Blackout (2024) about?

IMDb synopsis: Blackout follows two military veterans, Noah and Ella Daniels, whose attempt to settle into civilian life collapses when a nuclear crisis strikes. As society unravels, they form an uneasy alliance with former Special Forces operative Atticus Reed while fighting to survive in a lawless post-crisis world.

Who directed Blackout?

The film is directed by LeeAnne Bauer and David M. Parks, who also co-wrote the screenplay.

Who stars in the movie?

The main cast includes:

• LeeAnne Bauer as Ella Daniels

• Tyler James as Noah Daniels

• Mike Ferguson as Atticus Reed

• Twana Barnett as Aisha

• Omar Moustafa Ghonim as Knox

• Vu Mai as Cai

What genre is Blackout

The film is primarily an action thriller, with elements of crime, post-apocalyptic drama, and survival storytelling.

What is the runtime of Blackout?

The movie runs for 1 hour and 22 minutes (82 minutes).