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The Gratuitous B-Movie Column: Chain of Command
Image Credit: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
The Gratuitous B-Movie Column Issue #615: Chain of Command
Hello, everyone, and welcome once again to the internets movie review column that has never had to jump out of a window at the last second in order to escape a heavily armed strike team that’s out to get me, The Gratuitous B-Movie Column, and I am your host Bryan Kristopowitz. In this issue, issue number six hundred and fifteen, I take a look at the low-budget action flick Chain of Command, which was unleashed upon American audiences in early September, 2015.
Chain of Command
Chain of Command, originally known as Echo Effect and directed and co-written by Kevin Carraway, is one of the weirdest low-budget action flicks I think I’ve ever seen. Featuring two real deal modern action stars in its cast, Michael Jai White and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Chain of Command comes off as a movie that has no idea how to reach its own potential. It almost seems like it’s a movie that was originally meant to be a sort of “weekends project” for friends that wanted to make a movie but then somehow managed to get Michael Jai White and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to star in it. The movie is watchable and kind of fun in a weird way, but it isn’t the action extravaganza it should be. I mean, it has Michael Jai White and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin starring in it. We’re going to get a mega fight of some sort between them, right? A wild gun battle between them? That kind of thing has to happen, doesn’t it?
Well, it should happen.
Chain of Command stars Michael Jai White as James Webster, a badass retired military special agent or something (he’s revealed to be an expert in guerilla warfare later on) who comes home to Ohio to see his brother Walter (Ken Early) and some of his old fellow military veterans. During the party, Webster becomes concerned about Walter when he sees him talking on a cell phone and then potentially arguing with friend Cliff (Jon Osbeck). What the heck is that all about? Walt won’t say. After the party, Webster is contacted by Walt’s wife Sally (Shyra Thomas) and is told that Walt is dead. How the heck did that happen? Webster then gets a call about Cliff. So Webster goes to Cliff’s apartment and finds Cliff dead. Webster is then attacked by a mysterious man using a scarf as a garrote. Webster makes quick work of the attacker and attempts to interrogate him. The attacker has no interest in giving up any information, so Webster shoots him dead.
The next day, Webster goes to see his friend Lt. Ross (Max Ryan) to try to find out what the heck is going on. Who would want to kill Walt and Cliff? Ross tells Webster to not get involved, to let the local cops do their jobs. Webster isn’t interested in letting anyone but himself investigating what happened to Walt and Cliff. So Webster decides to do his own investigation.
It’s at this point in the plot that we find out what the heck the movie’s opening scene is all about. Chain of Command opens with a big truck with S.W.A.T. emblazoned on it arriving in town and what appears to be a series of body bags removed from the back. Those body bags are filled with bricks of heroin. Who the hell is transporting drugs into the town?
As Webster begins his investigation, we see notorious fixer and badass Ray Peters (“Stone Cold” Steve Austin) arrive in town. After talking with some business guy that’s involved in the drug running scheme (I have no idea who this guy is. I think his name is Ted and is played by Ken Strunk), Peters is “hired” to fix whatever the hell is ongoing with the operation. Peters then goes to see Ross, the man that’s actually in charge of the drug running scheme. Ross? Webster’s old military buddy? What the hell is that all about?
So then some stuff happens, Webster looks at some files Walter gave to old military buddy Sam Thorne (Ian Short), Webster finds out from Sally that there are mysterious men in suits causing trouble in the town, and Peters finds out that Webster is doing his own investigation. We also find out around this time that Peters and Ross are pissed off about a missing 40 million dollars. Who the hell stole 40 million dollars from the drug runners in town?
So then some more stuff happens, Webster is followed by a weirdo named Murray (Allen Yates), Webster tries to get information from Murray on who the hell hired him to follow him around, Murray is forced to go back to his employers (Ross and Peters, obviously) and is killed along with his blonde wife (there’s a whole thing here where Peters gives a speech about “accountability” that figures into this whole subplot). Webster is then attacked by several masked men and a shootout ensues in the middle of town.
This kind of thing keeps happening as Webster continues his investigation. Peters and Ross send henchmen to kill Webster, only for Webster to take them out fairly easily. Webster even kills a guy posing as a cop in a public bathroom (he may have actually been a cop), poisoning him with a syringe filled with something that causes its target to foam at the mouth. Webster’s investigation eventually leads him to a biker bar where he asks about a guy named O’Brien. After fighting several bikers for some reason, Webster meets O’Brien in the biker bar parking lot and finds out that O’Brien knows exactly what the hell is going on. And so Webster and the audience find out that Walt and Cliff were involved in the drug running scheme and that’s likely why they were killed.
I don’t want to say any more about the movie’s plot specifics because, well, you should experience some of what happens as it happens. Trust me, you just should.
What I find fascinating about Chain of Command is how the movie never once deals with how Webster can run around town, both during the day and at night, and just shoot people out in public. There are no local cops investigating the various public shootings, nor is there much in the way of public outrage about all of the killings. I mean, people have to hear the gunshots and whatnot, right? The town the movie is set in isn’t some bustling, noisy metropolis. The town actually comes off like a town you would find at the center of a Hallmark Christmas movie. There’s no way in hell regular people aren’t hearing the violence during the day or night. Webster freaking kills a guy dressed as a cop in a public bathroom. How is that not major local news? Why isn’t the mayor or the police chief outraged and calling in the state cops or the federal authorities to find out what is going on? Even if you take into account that, maybe, the major drug running operation probably has some local authorities on its payroll so they look the other way, that sort of arrangement isn’t going to be able to cover up everything, especially when there are goddamn shootouts in the middle of the town. People are going to talk and get upset.
I think it’s also fascinating how there’s never any sense of urgency, ever, throughout the movie. Webster’s investigation never once leaves you on the edge of your seat as he finds out, bit by bit, what’s going on. When Peters shows up to “fix” things, he gives multiple speeches and claims that he’s doing all he can to take out Webster and find the missing 40 million dollars, but you don’t actually believe him. Peters seems like a guy that’s naturally menacing and gets off on giving speeches about “accountability,” but that’s about it. Even the moment where he kills Murray and Murray’s wife, which seems harsh, it doesn’t really play as harsh. It’s just something that happens.
The movie’s action moments are okay. The various gun battles are never terribly exciting, but they do have good sound design. For the most part, the various guns sound different, which is so incredibly important in action movies. The fight scenes are just like the gun battles, serviceable but never terribly exciting. Michael Jai White does kick some major ass when he goes into full on martial arts mode.
And then there’s the whole “Michael Jai White and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin fight that has to happen because that’s what low-budget action movies like Chain of Command are all about. Why the hell have them be in the same movie if they don’t fight at some point” thing that is hovering over the movie. It has to be worth sitting through the entire movie, right? Right?
It never happens. In fact, I’m not entirely sure that Michael Jai White and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin were ever on set at the same time. There might be production photos floating around showing that they did, in fact, actually work together and were on set at the same time at least once, but watching the movie it sure as heck looks like they didn’t. The one scene where Webster and Peters interact, we only see Peters from behind and it’s very possible that the movie used a “Stone Cold” Steve Austin stand in. If that is what happened, why did it happen? Do MJW and Stone Cold not get along with one another? Am I missing something? Do I need to watch one of those MJW interviews on YouTube to find out this information? Action stars should get along. They really should.
Michael Jai White does a nice job as James Webster. He seems engaged in what’s going on, even when the plot just seems to be “going through the motions.” He also comes off as effortlessly badass, which is a Michael Jai White specialty regardless of whether or not he’s playing a good guy or a bad guy. White also looks good in the action moments he’s allowed to engage in, especially the wicked kicks he delivers to the various henchmen that try to attack him. I also want to commend Michael Jai White for making the “Webster dives through a window in order to escape certain death” scene look almost good (the window glass appears to have been CGI). I would like to know how Webster was able to do everything he did and not get arrested, especially all of the stuff he did out in public. Did the government step in off screen to “save” him? While Chain of Command isn’t MJW’s best movie, I’d be down for another James Webster adventure of some sort. I’m sure there’s more evil stuff going on in Ohio that would need an investigation, gun battles, and mega sidekicks to the head.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin does a god job as Ray Peters, the badass fixer that’s brought in to help Lt. Ross find and recover the missing 40 million dollars. Just like MJW, Stone Cold seems engaged throughout, although he doesn’t get to do as much in the way of action compared to MJW. Stone Cold’s best scenes involve him giving long speeches about “accountability” and how he “fixes problems.” The way Peters goes down at the end is sad, especially when you consider he’s played by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. The movie, and the world, deserved a full on MJW vs Stone Cold hand-to-hand battle of some sort. Chain of Command is the last movie Stone Cold has made, which is also incredibly sad. Why the hell isn’t he doing action flicks for Netflix or Peacock? It just makes no sense to me.
And what is this thing of having “Stone Cold” Steve Austin not listed in the credits as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin? That’s who he is. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. The man earned that goddamn name. So why not be credited as that? It’s insane to me that he’s just “Steve Austin” in the credits. He’s goddamn “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, man.
Max Ryan does an okay job as Lt. Ross. When you first meet Lt. Ross, he seems like a guy that might have to be brought in to “clean up” whatever bullshit Webster gets involved in while in Ohio, but then it’s revealed that Ross is a major bad guy and you despise him. Ryan does excel at being a prick, and there are multiple instances where Lt. Ross is one of the worst people who has ever lived. Ryan does get to do an okay knife fight against MJW at the end of the movie, but the fight doesn’t go on long enough, isn’t brutal enough, and the way Ross gets his is not very exciting or satisfying. I will say that Ryan does manage to sell that Army sweater thing he wears in his first scene. On anyone else it would look ridiculous.
No one else in the movie really stands out. Ian Short does what he can as the eyepatch wearing Sam Thorne, but he isn’t given enough to do. Allen Yates has a few moments as Murray, but he doesn’t hang around long enough to truly memorable. None of the female characters get to do much beyond be in the movie.
Why the heck did they change the title of the movie from Echo Effect to Chain of Command? Echo Effect sounds way cooler than Chain of Command, and it fits more because the movie is more of a mystery action movie than a full on military action movie. Who at Lionsgate or Grindstone decided that Echo Effect needed to go as the title?
Chain of Command isn’t very good. It’s watchable and entertaining enough, but it should be way more than it is. The movie has modern action stars Michael Jai White and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in it. They deserve better. We deserve better, too. Why didn’t MJW and Stone Cold fight? How did that not happen?
If you’re a Michael Jai White and/or a “Stone Cold” Steve Austin super fan and completist, Chain of Command is something that you should absolutely see. If you’re not a big fan of either, you’re going to have to decide for yourself if it’s worth your time. If you’re not in a very demanding mood, maybe? Chain of Command isn’t very good, but then there are worse movies out there. So, hey, why not?
See Chain of Command if you feel the need to.
So what do we have here?
Dead bodies: At least 20
Explosions: None.
Nudity?: None.
Doobage: A chopper flying over terrain. An attack of some sort at night. Lots of fire in the background. A plane lands at an airport. A big S.W.A.T. truck travels through a city. Body bag removal. A party in someone’s backyard. Beer drinking. Cell phone hooey. An old photo. More cell phone hooey. Off screen throat slitting. Attempted strangulation via scarf. Stomach kicking. Bullet to the knee. Café hooey. A pledge to do violence. Investigation hooey. An appointment book. Threatening to shoot kneecaps. Face punching. A gas company ruse. Elbow to the face. Arm slicing. Total physical destruction. Club to the back of the head. An almost suicide. Ruthless killing. Business card hooey. A public shootout. A foot chase. Attempted murder in a bar bathroom. An actual murder in a bar bathroom. Attempted needle torture. Foaming at the mouth. A biker bar fight. Some bullshit about Special Forces. Scarf attack. A massive punch to the back and then the throat. Another shootout. A very slow car chase. A wicked bullet to the head. Chair bondage. Taser attack. Wooden wall bondage. Serious kicking. Wood plank to the face. Multiple bullets to the head. A slow motion shootout. Ricochet hooey. A knife fight. A sweet kip up. A very slow knife pushed into a guy’s neck. An envelope. Money finding.
Kim Richards?: None.
Gratuitous: Michael Jai White saying “hello.” A journalist on a deadline. Michael Jai White drinking Jack Daniels and watching TV. Michael Jai White identifying a dead body at the morgue. An audio flashback of some sort. Michael Jai White driving a sweet looking Ford Mustang. Michael Jai White just killing guys. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin drinking booze. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin telling a guy that he doesn’t work cheap. Michael Jai White answering a dead man’s phone. Michael Jai White going through files. Michael Jai White taking pics of important documents with his phone. A car with no license plates. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin saying “I fix problems.” Michael Jai White walking the city alone at night. Dumpsters. Michael Jai White using a laptop computer to access secret government files. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin talking about “accountability.” “Stone Cold” Steve Austin telling an old war story. A bartender with one arm. Michael Jai White getting into a fight in a biker bar. A guy named “Lt. Bob Ross.” Michael Jai White using his phone to look around a corner. A dead body sitting up with a bullet hole in its head. Michael Jai White jumping out of a window where the glass appears to be CGI. Michael Jai White threatening to kill a guy’s entire family. Ohio license plates. Michael Jai White kicking apart a wood structure. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin giving a “they don’t give a shit about vets” speech.
Best lines: “Let’s have a toast to James! Cheers!” “Things are good. I need to get going.” Okay, so who are you? I want some answers.” “Who do you work for? Suck my dick.” “Hey, do you know a guy named Bill O’Brien?” “And you think that’s a good idea? You could be opening up a whole new hornets’ nest. Hornets die. And I don’t run from fights.” “Hey, man, whoever did this, if it’s a war they want, I’ll bring it to their doorstep.” “We have problems. I like problems. What sort of problem do we have?” “This is too dangerous. We shouldn’t be talking like this.” “Who else has the credentials to clean up a shit stain?” “I fix problems.” “Who are you? Murray. Murray Sims.” “Like I said, I don’t smell any gas.” “James, what in the hell have you got yourself mixed up with?” “You ever think about changing your tactics?” “I’m done with the military shit. I just want to collect my pension, disappear, and never be heard from again. Is that too much to ask?” “Christ, man, you always go waving that thing around like that? Pretty much.” “So, this whole thing is about money and drugs?” “You used to be a man of principles. What the fuck happened to you?” “Shit. Say, where are you?” “What are you doing here? You fucked up again.” “Well, I’m glad to hear you say that because I was beginning to think I was standing here talking to a dead motherfucker.” “He is going to fight you to the bitter end.” “Sam, where the hell are you?” “What are you going to do, shoot me?” “Welcome to hell. Yours or mine?” “I can deal with pain. How about you?” “Wow, you hit like a bitch.” “You just killed that woman, James. Cut her up.” “That’s for Walter.”
Rating: 5.9/10.0
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And don’t forget to check out From the B-Movie Vault!
Issue #1: Phantasm and Phantasm II
Issue #2: Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion
Issue #3: Phantasm: Ravager and John Dies at the End
Issue #5: Scanners II: The New Order and Scanners III: The Takeover
Issue #6: Scanner Cop and Scanner Cop II
Issue #7: John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2
Issue #8: Silent Night, Deadly Night and Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2
Issue #9: American Ninja and American Ninja 2: The Confrontation
Issue #10: The Marine and 12 Rounds
Issue #11: The Marine 2 and The Marine 3: Homefront
Issue #12: The Marine 4: Moving Target and The Marine 5: Battleground
Issue #13: American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt and American Ninja 4: The Annihilation
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Chain of Command
Michael Jai White– James Webster
”Stone Cold” Steve Austin– Ray Peters
Max Ryan– Lt. Ross
Ian Short– Sam Thorne
Ashleigh Barnett– Kate
Carter Bratton– O’Brien
Shyra Thomas– Sally
Ken Early– Walter
Jon Osbeck– Cliff
(check out the rest of the cast here)
Directed by Kevin Carraway
Screenplay by Kevin Carraway and Lawrence Sara
Distributed by Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Grindstone Entertainment Group
Rated R for violence and language
Runtime– 88 minutes
Buy it here
