In the end, everyone ends up where they’re supposed to be.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, The Equalizer 3 sees the return of retired government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) as he attempts to process the actions of his life. After a job goes wrong, McCall finds himself lost in Southern Italy. Yet, surprisingly, the injured stranger isn’t alone for very long as he is quickly embraced by the community. However, as he heals his body, his mind remains sharp and he realizes that his new ‘home’ is held in the grip of local crime bosses. As the tension escalates, McCall realizes that he must take matters into his own hands to bring justice to the people he cares about.
With the third (and, possibly, final?) film in the franchise, McCall truly wants to retire from his vengeful ways. As such, Fuqua keeps his filmmaking relatively simple. While there remains action aplenty, there is a peaceful tone amidst this quiet, rural community that he wishes not to disturb with his violent past. By keeping the location primarily rooted in the Italian coastline, Fuqua immediately bathes the film with a nostalgia glow. These are simple people and they welcome McCall with open arms, despite the questions about his past.
Even so, it’s worth noting that, like the previous entries, Equalizer 3 continues to be a surprisingly, bloody franchise. There is a heightened level of violence within this series that may surprise newcomers to the franchise. Fuqua has never shied away from brutality and he puts that on display here. Exploding skulls and blood splatters are par for the course for McCall and we bear witness to his fury.
Nevertheless, despite its graphic nature, Equalizer is a far deeper inquest into the nature of McCall’s soul than one might expect. McCall is a man who has seen it all. Despite his age, he remains at the top of his game. At any moment, he has access to a brutality that he is able to exercise with precision and vitality. He is a man who breathes violence and carries his murderous rage within underneath a steel glare. However, within the arms of this community, that icy stare begins to melt.
Embedded within the compassion of these people, his spirit is awakened.
Within Equalizer 3, the heart of a good man outweighs one’s actions and McCall is caught within the tension between the two worlds. Asked early on if he is either a good man or a bad man, McCall simply replies “I don’t know.“ Within this community, there lies a battle for his soul. For example, perhaps the best image within the film is not the beauty of the Italian cityscape but rather the desk drawer that stands next to McCall’s bed. Each time he opens it, McCall reveals its only contents to be a Bible and his watch next to one another. One symbolizes the precision with which he runs his murderous ways while the other seems to represent grace and new life. In these brief moments, Fuqua juxtaposes life and death against one another and the viewer is left to wonder which he will access next.
Nevertheless, there’s a certain sense of inevitability within Equalizer 3 that also offers hope to McCall. Believing that everyone ends up where they’re supposed to be, this community seems to feel that there are forces at work in the world that are out of our control. While this may lead to tragedy for some, for others, it may lead to healing and hope.
But, in the case of McCall, all he’s looking for is a fresh start.
The Equalizer 3 is available in theatres on Friday, September 1st, 2023.
