"Without Remorse" is the Killmonger Prequel We've All Been Wanting

 

Without Remorse is the Killmonger prequel that we've always wanted -- but without the MCU's goofy style of comedy. In Black Panther, disillusioned former Navy SEAL Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, explains that he's taken lives "in America, Afghanistan, Iraq..." All of these casualties were spurred by the murder of a loved one (his father). Well, Remorse shows disillusioned former Navy SEAL, Senior Chief John Kelly, also portrayed by Jordan, take lives in America, Syria and Russia. And the vast majority of these homicides are prompted by the murder of two loved ones (his wife and unborn child).

After returning to the states following a mission in Aleppo, Syria, members of Kelly's SEAL team are bumped off one-by-one by Russian nationals. Kelly himself almost becomes one of the victims but he manages to take out most of the hit team that breaks into his house -- but not before his pregnant wife Pam is shot to death. And not without taking enemy fire himself. What follows is a man-with-a-vendetta story that intersects with plenty of political intrigue involving shady intelligence operatives and clandestine missions as Kelly goes rogue (Jason Bourne-style) and liberally uses his license to kill. 

Technically, Without Remorse belongs to the Tom Clancy collection of films and television shows adapted from his books (The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, Shadow Recruit, Jack Ryan); it just happens to be the best of the bunch. And it's refreshing to see one of these stories not revolve around CIA analyst and supposed desk jockey Jack Ryan. John Kelly was originally portrayed by Willem Dafoe in Clear and Present Danger and later Liev Schrieber in The Sum of All Fears. But Jordan has utterly relegated these earlier portrayals to the realm of obsolescence. 

It was only a matter time until star and producer Michael B. Jordan launched another franchise. Beginning with 2015's Creed, he's been on a five-movie winning streak of excellent cinematic output. Without Remorse is number six. And a must-see.

Originally Posted 4/29/21