Insight Review: An Entertaining Martial Arts Thriller

Release date: March 12, 2021
Running time: 80 minutes
Starring: Ken Zheng, Tony Todd, Keith David, Madeline Zima 
Directors: Ken Zheng, Livi Zheng
Writer: Ken Zheng

Jian (Ken Zheng) is a counter terrorism agent who blends his skills as a martial artist and clairvoyant to bring the world's most nefarious individuals to justice. This lone wolf is is forced to make an unexpected detour to Los Angeles upon receipt of the devastating news of a cover up surrounding his brother's alleged suicide. With the reluctant help of LAPD detectives, Abby (Madeline Zima), Carl (Tony Todd), and Captain Duke (Keith David), the unlikely group become involved in the investigation. Jian and Abby fight against a high-tech criminal (Sean Patrick Flanery) looking to exploit the brothers' gifts in his own quest to power.

Insight has an interesting premise; a special agent that has the ability to see the future to help with his fighting and his overall agent work.  And this ability comes in handy regularly for the agent, as he is able to use his abilities to find missing people, clues, and even to help him fight.  And fight he does, as Jian uses his martial arts skills far more than his clairvoyance.  Insight is one part action and one part thriller, with a little bit of both throughout the film.  And the action is generally exciting, with solid martial arts.  Fights are long and involved, moving about the environment as Jian fights off multiple enemies trying to stop him and his investigation.  And the film also cuts back and forth between the present and Jian's past to show where he came from and his relationship with his brother.  Oh and the film has some fun music at times, especially when a pumping dub step song plays over an exciting club showdown. 

But Insight does a lot of things well, but not great.  The action is generally fast-paced and exciting, but also can have a very choreographed feel to it.  It's still enjoyable to watch, but you don't lose yourself in it.  And the acting is fine but not great, with some mixed delivery and emotion.  It has plenty of drama but that drama can be a little overblown.  It has a good selection and variety of music, but it doesn't really stick with you (other than the dub step fight scene).  The special effects are good, without generally distracting you, but they aren't amazing.  Just overall the film is a good one, but nothing that will wow you.  And some parts just aren't that engaging, such as the story.  The backstory is fun to watch, but overall the story doesn't really come together.  And the use of the clairvoyance powers can be interesting, but it doesn't feel like it was used to the fullest.  I would have liked to see more visions and especially see them during the fights, as Jian gets hit more than I would have expected from someone with mental powers.

Insight's interesting premise and solid martial arts action make for an entertaining blend of martial arts action and crime thriller. 

Rent it.

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Insight is available digitally and on demand on March 12, 2021. 

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