Jade (Shaina West, Black Widow, The Woman King) and her brother Brand had made their way from the UK to New Mexico after their parents were murdered. But when they arrived, they were recruited into a gang with deep ties to organized crime. We learn that in some unseen incident, Jade accidentally killed her brother, and now she has sworn never to shoot another gun. She is constantly riding the line between grief and guilt, and only trusts herself.

As the film opens, Jade visits a friend who gives her a hard drive containing secrets that could take down Interpol, exposing their missions and agents. A powerful businessman named Tork (Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler) is after the drive, and kidnaps Jade’s brother’s pregnant girlfriend Layla (Katherine McNamara, Shadowhunters, Maze Runner) to use as collateral. This baby is potentially the only family Jade has left. So, fueled by grief and rage, Jade channels her inner John Wick, going on a one-woman mission to take down Tork and her former gang leader/crew in order to save her future family. Meanwhile, also eager to get his hands on the drive is Jade’s former mentor/family friend, Interpol agent Reese (Mark Dacascos, John Wick 3), who offers to provide her with some assistance.

Jade is a pulpy, stylized, low-budget action film from writer/director James Bamford (Shadow Land, Air Force One Down) that also feels like a throwback to the blackspoitation era (especially with Jade’s massive afro). The story and characters are a bit weak and under-developed, and the hard drive is just your typical MacGuffin. While there are a couple unexpected twists, there are other plot points that never get resolved. For example, we never really see any explanation of what actually happened to Jade’s brother, despite this seeming to be a pretty significant plot point. Perhaps the filmmakers are hoping for some sort of sequel to hash that out. That said, the story and the hard drive are pretty much just there to link together the film’s fun and exciting non-stop action sequences.

Star Shaina West is delightful, with a fun and charming personality, and some stellar martial arts skills. Jade is constantly coming up against various foes, and uses her fists, feet, swords, guns, or whatever else she can get her hands on to take them down—sometimes dozens at a time. Mark Dacascos is also great, and gets a chance to showcase his own fighting skills. Mickey Rourke, on the other hand, is pretty much playing the same tough guy role he always seems to play these days.

The film is quite self-aware, often breaking the fourth wall, talking to the audience or sometimes dialogue is literally written on a wall. The action sequences are exciting and fun, from Mexican stand-offs, to hand-to-hand combat, to Jade clearing her way through a building with a samurai sword. Sometimes the film’s low budget is evident as some scenes just feel a bit unfinished. However, when it comes to the action sequences, this is where things really shine. The choreography is excellent, and the kung fu fights look particularly impressive. The action sequences are very stylized, making use of slow motion, quick cuts with whip sounds, split screens, excessive bloody effects, and more.

Well Go USA has released Jade exclusively on digital, but the film will also be available on Blu-ray April 8. Normally in my reviews, I would comment on the audio and video presentation of the release, but since I watched this film via a watermarked screener, I’m not sure how it compares to the final quality of the consumer product. The digital release does not include any bonus material. I’m not sure if the disc will contain anything either. However, the film is worth checking out for action fans, even if the story is a bit lacking.

What’s Included:

Digital specs may vary by platform/retailer.

Film: (1:28:44)

• 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
• Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English, French

Extras:

No bonus material included.

Final Thoughts:

Jade may be a bit weak when it comes to the story, but the fun and exciting non-stop action sequences make it worth a look. Star Shaina West is wonderful, delivering both on the charm and the action. She is captivating and fun, and her martial arts and fighting skills are really showcased in the film. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her work.