Reclaim (film)

Reclaim
File:Reclaim 2014 film poster.jpg
Directed by	Alan White
Produced by	Brian R. Etting Josh Etting Ian Sutherland Robert Luketic Gary Hamilton Mike Gabrawy Fredrik Malmberg Silvio Muraglia
Written by	Carmine Gaeta Luke Davies
Starring	John Cusack Ryan Phillippe Rachelle Lefevre with Luis Guzman and Jacki Weaver
Music by	Inon Zur
Cinematography	Scott Kevan
Edited by	Doobie White Scott D. Hanson
Production company	Grindstone Entertainment Group Asia Tropical Films Beijing Shuijing Shenlan International Media Co. Garlin Pictures Paradox Entertainment Arclight Films Origin Productions 120 dB Films Reclaim Productions Pty. Ltd.
Distributed by	Lionsgate
Release dates	September 19, 2014 (2014-09-19) (United States)
Country	China Malaysia USA
Language	English

Reclaim is a 2014 drama-thriller film that was directed by Alan White. The film was released on video on demand and also received a simultaneous limited theatrical release in the United States on September 19, 2014. It stars Ryan Phillippe and Rachelle Lefevre as an American couple who travel to Puerto Rico to adopt an orphan (Briana Roy) but become entangled in a deadly scam.

Plot

After a car accident that left her unable to have children, Shannon (Rachelle Lefevre) and her husband, Steven (Ryan Phillippe), decide to adopt a Haitian girl, Nina, orphaned after the 2010 earthquake, through the IRA (International Rescue Adoption), an organization run by Gabrielle Reigert (Jacki Weaver) and based on Puerto Rico. Having paid $60,000, the two move to a resort while they wait for Nina's United States passport to be realized. Steven takes an instant dislike at his neighbors, Benjamin (John Cusack), Salo (Jandres Burgos), and Paola (Veronica Faye Foo), especially after a misunderstanding with Salo at a bar, where he tells them about Nina, leads to a fight.

The following two days after adoption, the couple wake up to discover that Nina has disappeared. They begin their search and contact a policeman (Luis Guzmán) who tells them that their adoption documents are not recorded, while the IRA's headquarters in Old San Juan has been deserted. Steven admits that Reigert had demanded for an additional $40,000 as part of the adoption cost, which he did not tell to Shannon beforehand. Benjamin then suggets that the IRA is a confidence schemer who offers orphans to unsuspecting couples in exchange for a hefty sum of money only to take them away just a few days afterward. That night, Steven and Shannon are kidnapped by Benjamin and his aides, who reveal themselves to be child traffickers working for Reigert. They are holding Nina and force the couple into sending their entire savings, which for the most part are compensations for the car accident.

The next day, Steven heads to the bank to receive the savings at gunpoint. Taking note of Benjamin's mansion as being in Maunabo, he escapes back to mansion with the money from Salo. Meanwhile, Shannon breaks free from her captivity, takes Nina, then distracts Paola long enough for Steven to take her gun and vehicle to facilitate his escape with his wife and Nina. They are pursued by Benjamin and Salo, though the latter is killed when a truck hits his car. After a chase, Benjamin crashes his car and is presumed dead, while the couple and Nina narrowly avoid from falling into a steep cliff.

The three are escorted back by the policeman, but he is killed by Benjamin, having survived his crash, who then knocks Steven unconscious before taking them to Riegert's villa. A dispute regarding his shares of the money causes Benjamin to shoot Riegert dead. Steven recovers and follows Benjamin, who chases Shannon and Nina into a decrepit building. Just before he is able to murder Shannon, Steven arrives and kills Benjamin. The couple then convince Nina, having traumatized by the incident, to put down the gun she took and live with them.

The film ends with a text showing the viewers that 1.7 million children are being trafficked each year, most of which go undetected.

Cast

• Ryan Phillippe as Steven
• Jacki Weaver as Reigert
• John Cusack as Benjamin
• Rachelle Lefevre as Shannon
• Luis Guzmán as Superintendent
• Briana Roy as Nina
• Jandres Burgos as Salo
• Veronica Faye Foo as Paola
• Alex Cintrón as Hotel Manager
• Millie Ruperto as Female Sergeant
• Oscar H. Guerrero as Taxi Driver
• Reema Sampat as Interpreter
• Isabelle Adriani as Esmeralda
• Sunshine Logroño as Mr. Lopez (Bank Manager)
• Sean Taylor as Gerry

Production

Plans to film Reclaim were announced in 2013 and White was set to direct the film, which was initially intended to take place in Australia. This was later changed after Screen Australia declined the film's investment pitch and the filming and setting was changed to take place in Puerto Rico. Filming took place in late 2013 over a period of 23 days, which Lefevre has described as "intense". Child actress Roy commented on her role, stating that she found the hardest part to be "speaking all the languages, French, Creole and English.“

Reception

Critical reception for Reclaim has been predominantly negative and as of December 14, 2014, the film holds a rating of 0% on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 9 reviews) and 26 on Metacritic (based on 7 reviews). Much of the negative criticism centered around the film's plot, which many reviewers found too overly familiar and formulaic. Reviewers did praise the film's acting and scenery, with The Hollywood Reporter highlighting child star Brianna Roy out as a highlight. The Los Angeles Times criticized the movie for its script, writing "Carmine Gaeta and Luke Davies' screenplay is constructed from plot mechanics, and the emotional stakes grow less convincing with every twist of the screw."

External links

• Reclaim at IMDb