THE BLUFF (AMAZON PRIME) (2026)

SYNOPSIS: A Caribbean woman gets her secret past revealed when her island is invaded by vicious buccaneers.

MOVIE REVIEW:

After appearing somewhat underutilized in action-oriented roles in Citadel and Heads of State, Priyanka Chopra Jonas steps forward to headline her first full-fledged action vehicle in this Russo Brothers-produced spectacle, The Bluff.

The film opens in 1846, a time when the pirate era is nearing its end. However, one notorious pirate, Captain Connor (Karl Urban) still has unfinished business, both a personal grudge and missing gold. His former partner and lover, Bloody Mary, has allegedly run off with his treasure and is now living off the grid on Cayman Brac.

There’s little mystery surrounding Bloody Mary’s identity. Once a feared pirate, she now lives under the name Ercell, married to Captain T.H. Bodden (Ismael Cruz Córdova) and raising a son, alongside her rebellious sister-in-law Elizabeth (Safia Oakley-Green). But as expected, her violent past resurfaces, forcing her to dust off her formidable skill set.

No one going in expects The Bluff to rival the fantastical spectacle of Pirates of the Caribbean. Instead, the film keeps things straightforward, avoiding excessive exposition. The central mission is clear: Connor wants revenge, while his quartermaster Lee (Temuera Morrison) wants the gold for the crew. That’s essentially the driving force of the narrative.

That said, The Bluff feels more like a gritty action-adventure than a traditional pirate epic despite the treasure-hunting premise. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is fully committed, dishing out brutal kills and intense combat with the dedication of Keanu Reeves in one of his action roles. It’s evident she has put in serious work mastering the demanding fight choreography, from sharp kicks to elaborate swordplay. Karl Urban and Temuera Morrison add to the chaos though their characters lean toward standard villain archetypes.

Overall, the action set pieces are solidly executed. The film delivers plenty of hand-to-hand combat sequences, culminating in a finale set inside an obviously studio-built cave filled with booby traps and improvised weapons almost reminiscent of Home Alone-style deadly contraptions.

No one is claiming The Bluff is Oscar-worthy material. It is what it is: a predictable storyline packed with old-school, hard-hitting action. And sometimes, that’s good enough.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee