The Old Guard is a superhero story meets covert ops and military, but with none capes or costumes. The superpowered beings at the guts of the film are a mysterious group of immortal beings, led by Andromache or “Andy” (Charlize Theron), who’ve secretly protected humanity for millennia. As they struggle to keep up their anonymity, they need to also contend with the emergence of a brand new immortal, Nile (KiKi Layne). Together, the team faces each modern threats and age-old enemies of their quest to preserve secrecy about their identities and ensure security for the long run.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, who previously created much quieter movies like The Secret Lifetime of Bees and Beyond the Lights, The Old Guard has an emotional depth that you just won’t expect from a superhero motion film. The themes of sacrifice and guilt are grounded by Theron’s stellar performance, in addition to those of Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli and Chiwetel Ejiofor. With its mix of thought-provoking elements and adrenaline-pumping motion, The Old Guard offers a refreshing tackle the genre, providing each entertainment and substance for viewers. A sequel is now streaming, so now’s the proper time to look at the unique.
The Old Guard is streaming on Netflix.