The new Netflix Original “Lost Bullet” is a lean, action-packed crime thriller that checks every box for what you want from these kinds of movies. It’s got car chases, shoot-outs, and fist fights. It features crooked cops, cover-ups, betrayals, and revenge. Holding it all together is a story with enough energy and grit but lacking the narrative spark needed to make it feel like it’s own thing.

The film stars former stuntman Alban Lenoir who also serves as co-writer. He plays Lino, a convict serving time for customizing a car Mad Max style and running it through four concrete walls in a botched attempt at robbing a jewelry store (imagine how that looks on a rap sheet). He’s approached in prison by a cop named Charas (Ramzy Bedia) who is putting together a special team to take on a gang of drug runners. He has his drivers. He just needs someone to soup up their rides to keep up with the thugs.

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

Enter Lino and his mad mechanic skills. He’s offered a work release if he’ll join the unit and basically turn their cars into turbo-changed tanks. That’ll give them what they need to finally stop the “go-fasts”. Now if you’re like me and have no idea what a go-fast is, I’ll save you some Google search time. Apparently go-fasts are vehicles loaded with drugs that drive (obviously) really fast. You learn something new everyday.

But I digress, Lino loses his get-out-of-jail-free card amid a series of double-crosses and some old-fashioned police corruption. Soon he finds himself on the run again, framed for the murder of an officer and determined to find a way to clear his name. But it’ll take plenty of bullets and (of course) a highly modified, super-fast car to take out the baddies.

Director Guillaume Pierret puts together some crackling action scenes and Lenoir has the physicality and tough guy personality you want. It’s a simple yet well-conceived story that keeps things moving at a snappy pace. It still doesn’t do much to stand out from the slew of other movies like it, but it’s an entertaining enough ride and a nice diversion especially for action fans. “Lost Bullet” is streaming now on Netflix.

VERDICT – 3 STARS