Malcolm Goodwin Carries the Fight: Resurrection Road Review

This Resurrection Road review starts with a simple question: can a small, 77-minute war movie turn a strong premise into something memorable? Writer-director Ashley Cahill sends a six-man Black Union squad behind enemy lines, and Malcolm Goodwin gives the film a steady centre. It is rough around the edges, but it has real intent.

Resurrection Road Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Resurrection Road plot is easy to follow. A squad of six Black soldiers, led by ex-slave Barabbas, gets orders for a suicide mission. They must creep into a Confederate fort deep in the Arkansas woods and blow up its long-range guns, a strike that could shift the war.

The film is an action drama at heart, and critics note it leans into survival-of-the-fittest territory once the mission gets under way. The tagline, "Killing folks is thirsty business," tells you the tone: blunt, bloody and not shy about it. If you like your action movie reviews lean and violent, this setup will catch your eye.

What Works in Resurrection Road

The premise is the film's best hook. Few war films focus on Black soldiers on a covert mission, and the idea of a former slave leading the raid gives the story weight beyond the body count. It is a promising angle, even when the script does not fully explore it.

The short runtime helps. At 77 minutes, the movie moves quickly and rarely stalls.

• Practical effects: Viewers point to real squibs and some creative practical gore, which feels more tactile than cheap digital blood.

• Pace: The mission structure keeps things moving from one tense stretch to the next.

• Making the most of a small budget: Even reviewers who are tough on the film say the production is solid given its obvious limits.

Resurrection Road Cast and Performances

The Resurrection Road cast is led by Malcolm Goodwin as Barabbas, and he is the film's strongest asset. Reviewers praise the sincerity and grit he brings, and he sells moments of fear, grief and rage without overplaying them. He gives the film an emotional spine that the writing alone does not.

He is backed by Furly Mac as Cuffy, Triana Browne as Tsula, Okea Eme-Akwari as Washington, Randall J. Bacon as Stevens and Jeff Daniel Phillips as General Craven. The ensemble has a lived-in, scrappy chemistry, though the script gives most of the squad little room to grow. You may wish you knew them better by the time the danger peaks.

Where Resurrection Road Stumbles

The biggest problem is depth. One critic says there is a better version of this story that spends more time with its characters, and that feels right. With six soldiers and barely over an hour to work with, several of them stay sketches.

The tone is also uneven. One review describes a film that bounces between familiar genre tropes, schlock humour and a story with few surprises. Cinematography draws complaints too, and viewers mention the budget and the writing as hurdles.

The critical response is mixed. Letterboxd users average about 2.85 out of 5, and the TMDB audience score sits at 5.7 out of 10, though both samples are small. Treat the numbers as a sign of a divisive, modest film rather than a verdict.

Is Resurrection Road Worth Watching?

Resurrection Road is worth watching if you want a short, violent war-action ride and can forgive its rough edges. It is not a polished historical drama, and it does not try to be. It is a B-movie with a sharp premise and a committed lead.

If you come for Goodwin and the practical carnage, you will get your money's worth. If you want rich character work or deep history, you may leave wanting more. Fans of war stories can browse our war movie reviews for stronger options, or try something with a different flavour like Altered for gritty action.

For background on the film, the Resurrection Road page on Letterboxd collects viewer reactions and cast details.

Who Will Enjoy Resurrection Road

• Fans of low-budget action and survival thrillers who like practical gore.

• Viewers curious about Civil War stories told from a Black soldiers' point of view.

• Anyone who wants a quick watch built around a strong lead performance from Malcolm Goodwin.