The Rhythm Section

Movie Trailer

Release Date
January 31, 2020

Genre
Action, Thriller

Cast & Crew

• Blake Lively as Stephanie Patrick
• Jude Law as Iain Boyd
• Sterling K. Brown as Marc Serra
• Max Casella as Leon Giler
• Richard Brake as Lehmans

Director
Reed Morano

Other Movies Director is Known For

• I Think We’re Alone Now (2018)
• Meadowland (2015)
• Directed episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale (2017)

Producer
Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson

Writer
Mark Burnell (based on his novel)

Budget
$50 million

Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Eon Productions

Running Time
109 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R (for violence, language, drug use, and some sexual content)

Content Advisory

• Intense violence and fight scenes
• Drug use
• Sexual content
• Strong language

Movie Story
The Rhythm Section follows Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively), a woman whose life has been shattered by the death of her family in a plane crash. Consumed by grief and guilt, Stephanie spirals into self-destruction, living a reckless life of drugs and prostitution. However, her world changes when she learns that the crash was not an accident but a terrorist attack that was covered up. Fueled by revenge, she embarks on a journey to track down those responsible for the death of her loved ones.

With no formal training, Stephanie seeks out former MI6 agent Iain Boyd (Jude Law), who reluctantly agrees to help her transform into an assassin. Under his rigorous and grueling training, Stephanie slowly transforms her body and mind into a weapon. However, despite her newfound skills, Stephanie is constantly reminded of her vulnerabilities and the emotional weight of her mission.

As she tracks down leads across various countries, including Spain, the UK, and Morocco, Stephanie becomes involved with shady intelligence officer Marc Serra (Sterling K. Brown), who has his own hidden agenda. The film is a gritty, grounded take on the revenge thriller, portraying Stephanie’s journey not as a glamorous transformation but a brutal, painful path to survival. Each step brings her closer to the truth, but also closer to losing herself entirely. In the end, she must confront the moral complexities of vengeance and decide whether she can truly become the killer she has been trained to be.

Special Effects
The Rhythm Section uses minimal CGI, relying heavily on practical effects to create a more realistic atmosphere. The action scenes are raw and intense, with hand-to-hand combat and car chases shot with a sense of immediacy that adds to the tension. The film’s focus on realism means the special effects are understated, but the impact of the violence and the physical toll on Stephanie’s body is palpable.

Box Office Performance
Despite its star power and intriguing premise, The Rhythm Section was a major box office disappointment. It grossed only around $6 million worldwide against a budget of $50 million, making it one of the biggest box office flops of 2020. However, the film did gain some appreciation for Blake Lively’s intense and committed performance.

Filming Locations

• Dublin, Ireland
• Tangier, Morocco
• Madrid, Spain
• London, England

Notable Quotes

• “You’re not a killer. You have to be better than that.” – Iain Boyd
• “This is what it feels like. It’s not worth it.” – Stephanie Patrick
• “Sometimes, it’s better not to ask questions. You don’t always want to know the answers.” – Marc Serra

Behind-the-Scenes

• Blake Lively suffered a serious hand injury during filming, causing production to shut down for several months.
• The film was based on the first of a series of novels by Mark Burnell, though the disappointing box office performance likely halted plans for further adaptations.

Awards

• None

Final Verdict
The Rhythm Section is an intense, character-driven thriller that sets itself apart from more stylized revenge films. Blake Lively delivers a gripping performance as a woman broken by grief and transformed by revenge, with the film’s grounded, realistic approach to action being one of its strengths. However, the slow pacing and dark tone may not appeal to all audiences, and the film’s narrative struggles to fully engage at times. It’s worth watching for fans of gritty action dramas, but falls short of becoming a genre classic.

IMDb Rating
5.3/10