Following Ocean Master's defeat, Amanda Waller dispatches Task Force X, consisting of Deadshot, Count Vertigo, Black Manta, and criminal couple Punch and Jewelee, to recover a flash drive from Tobias Whale. Despite the team successfully completing the mission, Vertigo and Jewelee betrays the others by attacking Deadshot and killing Punch. They reveal to Deadshot that they have been working together since their time in jail. Unknown to them, Waller was listening to the conversation the whole time because she suspected there was a traitor and activates nano-tech bombs implanted in Vertigo and Jewelee's necks. Vertigo is killed by the bomb while Deadshot shoots Jewelee out of mercy, much to Waller's intrigue.
REVIEW
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay is a Dark and Bloody animated movie with some laughs, but not quite as good as Escape from Arkam. Like Escape From Arkam, Amanda Waller (The Thinner Version) sends Task Force X on a secret mission to obtain a supernatural McGuffin. ( No Spoilers you will see what it is when you watch the movie). This is a non sanctioned mission for the Squad, they are stripped of their usual resources and gear and are reduced to driving across country in an RV (imagine an all Super Villains road trip lol).
The movie set up feels like a 70's grind house film with blood, gore and sex, which isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't seem to fully work for this animated feature. The fight scenes look great, but the more conversational scenes in between don’t fare so well. Especially the arguments between Deadshot and Bronze Tiger, it gets old quick. The characters have these stiff stoic expressions whenever they talk. Because of this, jokes and one-liners end up falling flat.
As always a solid voice cast with these DC Universe Original Movies, and this is no exception, with standout performances by Vanessa Williams (Amanda Waller), C. Thomas Howell (Professor Zoom), Greg Grunberg (ahem..."Steel Maxum"), and James Urbaniak (Professor Pyg). My personal favorite is Tara Strong who gives another great performance as Harley Quinn.
Overall I did enjoy the movie, the action and story were good. I would rate the one lower compared to the other films in this series. Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay will release digitally on March 27, 2018 and is released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 10, 2018.
By Sean Tucker
