Review of Dredd (2012) by Ashley H — 20 Jan 2015

The allure of the police state is clear in Mega City One, as well as its cost. In a city where law enforcement can mete out punishment according to their own discretion, is living under the thumb of a vicious criminal so very different?

Dredd will look familiar to those who look to the police as the only line between them and the unchecked savagery of humanity, AND to those who can expect the same iron fisted brutality from the de jure law as they do from de facto local despots. That is a hell of a neat trick.

Bonus: Dredd works for a woman. His terrifying rookie sidekick is a woman. The even more terrifying antagonist is a woman. I was prepared for a testosterone-soaked macho violence fest and got something both more thoughtful and more gender-balanced. Don't worry, though. The violence is still there, and is awesome.