Released in French cinemas on February 23, 2022, Blacklight is an action-packed suspense film directed by Mark Williams. Led by Liam Neeson, alongside Aidan Quinn and Taylor John Smith, the movie fits into the genre of contemporary political thrillers. After its theatrical run, the film will become available for streaming on Prime Video starting January 1, 2026.
Travis Block is an undercover FBI operative tasked with stepping in when standard methods fall short. Operating in the shadows and without an official administrative role, he employs swift, sometimes ruthless tactics to safeguard the Bureau’s interests. A loyal but isolated field agent, he still believes he's fighting for a just cause.
When his superiors order him to silence an agent willing to expose some internal practices to the press, Block begins to have doubts. He gradually realizes he's being manipulated and used merely as a pawn. Caught in an institutional whirlpool, he eventually decides to turn against those he once served.
The situation takes a sharp turn when his enemies target his daughter and granddaughter. From that moment on, Travis Block resorts to his own brand of justice against the very system that shaped him, sparking relentless pursuit where loyalty, duty, and truth clash head-on.
The plot of Blacklight draws partial inspiration from COINTELPRO, the covert FBI program aimed at infiltrating and disrupting domestic political organizations during the 1960s and 1970s. Mark Williams openly acknowledges this historical reference, adapting it into a contemporary setting to explore issues of governmental overreach, institutional malfeasance, and state surveillance.
The film is co-written by Mark Williams and Nick May, a former lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration. Blacklight marks May's debut as a screenwriter, bringing a grounded and informed perspective on legal and political intricacies to the story.
Although the story is set in Washington and its surroundings, most of the filming took place in Australia, primarily in Melbourne. This decision was driven by pandemic-related restrictions. The production also employed virtual filming techniques using LED screens and the Unreal Engine software, which helped secure the action scenes and simplified the overall shooting process.
In terms of tone, Blacklight targets fans of political thrillers. The film continues the partnership between Mark Williams and Liam Neeson following The Good Criminal and The Veteran, fitting into a filmography characterized by aging characters facing the moral limits of the systems they serve.
Blacklight
Film | 2022
In theaters starting: February 23, 2022
Available on Prime Video from January 1, 2026
Action, thriller | Runtime: 1h48
Directed by Mark Williams | Starring Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Taylor John Smith
Original title: Blacklight
Country: United States
In Blacklight, Mark Williams delivers an action thriller that explores themes of abuse of power and institutional manipulation, all while maintaining sharp, focused direction that keeps the spotlight firmly on its lead character.
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