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Horror thriller

The Retaliators (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Retaliators (2022) movie poster

The Retaliators is a 2022 horror thriller directed by Bridget Smith and Samuel Gonzalez Jr., starring Michael Lombardi as Bishop, Abbey Hafer and Katie Kelly. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $9,980 worldwide. Critics gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
86%
worldwide gross
$10K
Echo Score
60
Metascore
48
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The Retaliators (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Genres
Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Retaliators About?

The premise of The Retaliators without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A pastor's life is shattered when his daughter is brutally murdered, sending him on a relentless pursuit of justice. Driven by grief and rage, he descends into a world of darkness and evil, seeking retribution. The film combines horror and thriller elements with a powerful soundtrack of heavy metal and rock music, amplifying the intensity of his quest. Expect appearances from notable figures and an original score that mirrors the protagonist’s burning fury.

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Cast & crew

The Retaliators Cast & Characters

Michael Lombardi leads the cast as Bishop, with Abbey Hafer as Rebecca Bishop and Katie Kelly as Sarah. Directed by Bridget Smith and Samuel Gonzalez Jr.; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Retaliators

· 6 more
From the directors

More from Bridget Smith and Samuel Gonzalez Jr.

More films directed by Bridget Smith and Samuel Gonzalez Jr.: The Plastic Men, Womb, Nite Flirt and 7th Secret.

Ratings

The Retaliators Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Retaliators 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in art & craft (70) and weakest in character & emotion (45).

60 /100

The Retaliators Echo Score Breakdown

The Retaliators delivers a visceral visual and auditory experience that resonates with genre enthusiasts, while its narrative and character work remain uneven. Critics and viewers note strong production design, gritty cinematography, and a hard‑rock soundtrack that enhance the film's brutal aesthetic. Conversely, the plot drifts across multiple threads and the central performances often lack depth, leading to a fragmented emotional core. This blend of striking style and structural flaws results in a mixed but occasionally rewarding watch.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of direction and visual craftsmanship, the film showcases gritty cinematography and inventive set pieces that many reviewers found compelling. Critics praised the climactic set‑piece and users highlighted impressive editing and location work. However, some noted uneven pacing and occasional disjointed editing choices that detracted from overall cohesion. The artistic execution, while not flawless, leans toward a solid technical achievement.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    When it comes to character development, the consensus points to under‑cooked performances and limited emotional resonance. Multiple critics commented on a lack of solid main‑character energy, and users described acting as uneven, with some describing it as unbearable. A few reviewers did find occasional engaging moments, but the overall impression is that character depth and chemistry are inconsistent, weakening the film's impact.

  • Story & Flow 60

    The storyline attempts a revenge‑driven thriller with multiple subplots, leading to a mixed response on coherence. Critics acknowledged moments of effective horror and praised the film's originality, yet many noted a fragmented narrative that feels like several films stitched together. Users echoed this split view, citing an engaging twist and original premise alongside a disjointed early act. Overall, the story is ambitious but uneven in its execution.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    Sensory elements stand out as a core strength, with a hard‑rock soundtrack and pronounced sound design that reinforce the film's gritty tone. Reviewers highlighted the visual style, vivid gore, and effective use of music, especially cameo performances by rock artists. While a few critics found the soundtrack occasionally grating, the majority praised the cohesive audio‑visual experience, making the sensory impact a notable positive.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch potential is mixed, reflecting the film's polarized reception. Genre fans appreciate its grindhouse aesthetic and may return for the visceral set‑pieces and soundtrack, as noted by several viewers. However, the uneven narrative and character work reduce broader repeat appeal. Consequently, the film offers limited lasting attraction beyond a single, novelty‑driven viewing for most audiences.

Plot

The Retaliators Plot Summary

What happens in The Retaliators from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On a lonely rural road, Sofie and Erica’s road trip takes a brutal turn when their car breaks down. Erica steps out to fix the tire, but she is dragged into the woods by a figure that Sofie initially mistakes for a zombie. Pastor John Bishop arrives and explains that the attackers aren’t undead. Despite his intervention, the threat intensifies, the creatures overwhelm the area, and Sofie is killed.

Full summary

The whole story of The Retaliators, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Retaliators Box Office

The Retaliators grossed $9,980 worldwide.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$10K

International
$10K
Videos

The Retaliators Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Retaliators.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Retaliators?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What vehicle breaks down on the lonely rural road at the beginning of the film?

Details

The Retaliators Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “The Retaliators - Auge um Auge” and “I vendicatori - The Retaliators”.

Also known as
  • The Retaliators - Auge um Auge
  • I vendicatori - The Retaliators
  • Каратели
  • Retaliação
  • 复仇者
  • המתגמלים
  • 리탈리에이터: 악인전
  • 父仇追擊
  • Відплатники

Seen The Retaliators?

FAQ

The Retaliators FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Retaliators, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Retaliators?

The Retaliators runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

When was The Retaliators released?

The Retaliators was released on September 14, 2022.

Who directed The Retaliators?

The Retaliators was directed by Bridget Smith and Samuel Gonzalez Jr.

More films by Bridget Smith

Who is in the cast of The Retaliators?

The Retaliators stars Michael Lombardi as Bishop, Abbey Hafer as Rebecca Bishop and Katie Kelly as Sarah, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Retaliators make at the box office?

The Retaliators grossed $9,980 worldwide.

How is The Retaliators rated?

The Retaliators has 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic, 59% on TMDB and 2.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does The Retaliators have a post-credit scene?

No. The Retaliators has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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