This marks John Woo’s return to Hollywood filmmaking after Paycheck in 2003, which wasn't particularly memorable. The film largely hinges on the expressions and reactions of the main character and supporting players, despite its predictable nature and occasional melodramatic moments—though that melodrama is spread throughout. The fact that it avoids conventional storytelling approaches is something to be appreciated. A father experiences the tragic death of his son during a gang-related shootout in a made-up Texas city. He narrowly survives and sets out to find those responsible, though the script doesn’t adequately explain his initial skillset or how the entire movie functions as setup for revenge. It's still an enjoyable watch, particularly if you appreciate films centered on cold revenge. The suspense is consistently present, and even with its predictability, the film provides a satisfying conclusion, steadily increasing tension until the very end (I found the final scene to be quite effective—it addressed something that had been unclear earlier, specifically his responses to his wife’s grief). As you'd anticipate from a John Woo movie, there are electrifying action sequences, particularly at the beginning, in the middle, and most notably towards the conclusion. The violence is realistically portrayed, and Joel Kinnaman’s performance as the lead character earned the film an extra star that it wouldn’t have otherwise received. I'd rate it a 7.0 out of 10.0 / B. If you're looking for action and revenge themes during the holiday season, this is a good choice (the Christmas setting mostly serves to heighten the initial drama; it could realistically have taken place at any time of year, but we need a seasonal hook every year, don’t we?).

Source on TMDB