From NetFlix:
Traumatized by the atrocious murders of his wife and daughter — and the flawed justice system that set the killers free — Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) gives in to his rage and sets out on a course of vengeance. He soon takes on not only the prosecutor involved in the case, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), but also the city of Philadelphia. Director F. Gary Gray’s bold crime thriller co-stars Viola Davis and Michael Gambon.
Ever since Dear Frankie (2004) I have been waiting for Gerard Butler to become a good actor. Alas! In the current potboiler he is somewhat adequate. His character, Clyde Shelton, is unbelievably omnipotent. As I see it, the only reason to watch this mediocre film is to see all the tricks Clyde plays on Jamie Foxx and the rest of Philadelphia. Vengence sets the entire tone of this film.
Warning: There are almost gratuitous gory and violent scenes. Don’t say I didn’t stress the mediocrity of this film.
I saw this after saying to a friend that I’d like to go to the cinema for some light relief. Couldn’t have been further from light. Incredibly dark, and, as you say, lots of gratuitous violence. There was something somewhat gripping for me in all the tricks the protagonist plays … but it’s definite B list material.