For an action thriller, Dead Shot is pretty boring. It doesn’t pick up until the latter half of the film, and even then, things never feel as impactful as they should be. The gears start to turn once Michael seeks revenge for the murder of his wife, but the film never builds enough story to move past this cliché. He has neither a rich backstory for us to fully feel for him, nor an impressive array of combat skills for us to be wowed, at least, by the mechanics of it all. The film is okay if you’re seeking easy thrills (Morgan finds a gripping scene partner in Aml Ameen, who plays the soldier Michael is after) but seasoned fans might want more out of a film that takes place during one of the country’s most politically charged eras. 

The “must avenge killed wife” plot line is a tired one, but it feels particularly frustrating here given that Dead Shot takes place when and where it does. The IRA and British intelligence are involved, and so are characters from different classes and races, but the film ignores the friction between these opposing forces and focuses, instead, on a revenge scheme that is too thin and familiar to compel. The geopolitics of the film's setting is rich with potential, but it feigns ignorance in lieu of more action, which it doesn't even do well enough.