The Marine 6: Close Quarters (2018)
The Marine 6: Close Quarters is the latest installment in the Marine series, a franchise known for its fast-paced action, brutal fight scenes, and the presence of WWE stars in leading roles. Directed by James Nunn, the film stars WWE Superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin as Jake Carter, a character who is no stranger to intense action. The film, like its predecessors, focuses on an action-packed narrative with a lot of physical confrontations, and Close Quarters is no exception. However, while it delivers on the action, it ultimately falls short in terms of story and character development.
Plot & Characters
In The Marine 6: Close Quarters, Jake Carter (Mike Mizanin) finds himself on a mission to protect a witness named Sara (played by Beulah Koale), who is set to testify against a group of ruthless criminals. The film’s plot revolves around Carter’s efforts to ensure her safety while fending off multiple attempts on her life. A large portion of the movie takes place in a hotel, where Carter and Sara are trapped, fighting off an armed gang that is trying to capture her.
While the plot is serviceable and offers a standard action-thriller setup, it is ultimately thin and predictable. There are no major twists or surprises in the narrative, and much of the film relies on its action sequences to carry the story forward. The characters are also underdeveloped, with little in the way of personal arcs or depth. Jake Carter is a classic tough guy hero who is skilled in hand-to-hand combat and has a strong sense of duty, but there isn’t much beyond this archetype to make him stand out.
Mike Mizanin, in his second Marine film, brings his wrestling persona to the role of Carter—he’s physically imposing and has the charisma to play a tough, heroic character, but his performance doesn’t have much nuance. The supporting cast, which includes a variety of stock characters such as the villains and the innocent victim, is similarly unremarkable.
Action & Fight Scenes
As expected from a Marine movie, Close Quarters is filled with brutal, high-energy action sequences. The majority of the film’s runtime is devoted to fistfights, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combat. The choreography is well-executed, and Mizanin’s wrestling background lends itself to convincingly staged fight scenes. Carter is an effective action hero, using a mix of martial arts and street fighting techniques to dispatch enemies, and the film does a good job of showcasing his physicality.
The hotel setting is perfect for close-quarters combat, and the confined spaces lead to several intense sequences where Carter must outsmart and overpower multiple foes. The action is fast and furious, with little downtime between fights. If you’re a fan of intense action with minimal pauses, The Marine 6 delivers in that regard.
While the action is one of the film’s strongest points, it can sometimes feel repetitive. The same basic formula plays out throughout, and after a while, the fight scenes lose their novelty. That said, they are certainly fun for those who are looking for high-stakes action without a lot of focus on intricate plotting.
Cinematography & Direction
James Nunn’s direction does a solid job of keeping the action flowing and maintaining a brisk pace. The film is shot in a straightforward manner, with the focus primarily on the action rather than stylish cinematography. The confined setting of the hotel creates a sense of claustrophobia and tension, as Carter and Sara are forced into a tight space where the stakes are high and escape is difficult.
The pacing is quick, and the action sequences are well-edited, making the film easy to follow despite its simplicity. However, the film lacks the polish and visual flair of larger-budget action films, and the production value is evident in its relatively low-budget appearance. The cinematography doesn’t take many risks, but it works well enough for the type of film it is—one that’s designed to deliver action over spectacle.