Recoil

On the surface, Recoil follows a seasoned cop whose world shatters when a brutal crime sprees rips his family away. The system stalls, witnesses disappear, and the killers walk free, leaving him with a stubborn ache and a vow to act. He sheds the badge and applies his police skills to a shadowy pursuit, tracking suspects through urban backstreets, surveillance feeds, and old testimonies. The line between guardian and aggressor grows thin as he enforces his own code with methods the department would never sanction. Each move draws him deeper into danger, forcing him to confront what justice costs when vengeance becomes a lifestyle and the pressure to quit is always close. Tension tightens as danger closes in on him.

Directed by Terry Miles and released in 2012, Recoil is built around a concept by John Sullivan. The action thriller centers Steve Austin in the lead role with Serinda Swan and Danny Trejo delivering support in a gritty urban setting.

Box office details for Recoil are not widely documented, which is common for lower budget genre titles. The film appears to have seen limited theatrical exposure or emphasis on home video and streaming platforms, rather than a broad international run.

There are no major awards listed for Recoil and it did not attract notable nominations from mainstream film bodies. The movie fits within the straight to video market where action stars draw audiences with recognizable faces rather than prestige. Viewers seeking quick thrills and a tough performance will find satisfaction.

Critics treated Recoil as a solid genre piece that moves briskly and poses questions about vigilantism without offering neat answers. The film centers on moral ambiguity, the costs of violence, and the tension between official law and personal retribution, wrapped in straightforward gunplay and chase sequences that satisfy genre fans.