“Blackout” follows military vets Ella and Noah Daniels, whose peaceful venture into civilian life devolves into chaos after a nuclear crisis brings danger to their doorstep.

A Grand Beginning

The film begins with grand aspirations, taking a large-scale approach by quickly establishing global tensions. It’s full of chaos and, most importantly, grandeur.

These high stakes immediately draw attention. Montage-esque and narration-heavy introductions can oftentimes feel forced, but not here. It’s the perfect start to set the serious, hard-hitting tone of the film as a whole.

It’s within this ambition that “Blackout” deserves a lot of praise. Some of the special effects and action sequences aren’t perfect – and they don’t need to be. Even with a small budget, the film manages to encompass such a monstrous disaster in ways that so many other films can’t.

This is able to overcome some of its technical shortcomings by creating such a well-rounded world. One that is part dystopian but also widely relatable to the discontent and conflict seen today.

The visuals and score also contribute to the film’s overall gritty aesthetic. It’s simply done, with hued colors, close-ups and shifting perspectives.

And even though there are moments where the CGI negatively stands out, “Blackout” still manages to include effective practical effects. Some fire-filled and blood-soaked moments leave an impression.

From Global to Personal

The initial stages of “Blackout” are disconnected by design. Following multiple groups of characters, it focuses on dialogue and conversations to engage viewers with them as people. After exploring their different traits and possible ambitions, it moves into the central storyline.

Once these characters’ paths converge, “Blackout” steps on the gas pedal – just in a different way than expected.

Rather than continuing on its worldwide trajectory, the film moves in a more intimate direction. Examining a personal conflict amidst nuclear fallout, “Blackout” looks at themes of greed, human nature and PTSD. Some are more well-explored than others, but they’re all present nonetheless.

Even after a nuclear disaster, humans are still … human. “Blackout” takes advantage of this fact to tell a story that is innately small. Looking after themselves, people often turn to bad in times of uncertainty. The film captures this well.

Writer-directors David M. Parks and LeeAnne Bauer are able to maintain the tension that a movie of this kind requires. It’s never able to reach the heights of more mainstream action-thrillers, but the execution in what it aims to do is there.

Bauer (Ella) also stars in the movie, alongside Mike Ferguson (Atticus), Twana Barnett (Aisha), Tyler James (Noah), Vu Mai (Cai) and Omar Moustafa Ghonim (Knox).

Ferguson’s voice echoes through many of the film’s most intense moments. His raspy delivery fits the character perfectly and contrasts well with Bauer’s more subtle performance.

Where it Falters

Not every aspect of “Blackout” fits together. Some of the postwar character elements are underdeveloped, oftentimes undercutting the film’s action sequences.

Viewers who are hooked by the nuclear aspect of the story may end up feeling underwhelmed as well. It’s a movie that includes this premise, but it’s not necessarily the point. It’s more about one of the infinite intimate scenarios that could arise from such an event.

“Blackout” is an entertaining indie action-thriller. It knows how to hook the audience and maintains grand yet intimate stakes until the end. There are flaws within, but they don’t define the film.

Rating: 3 out of 5