July 12th: The Bluff
The Bluff
Released: 2026
Directed by: Frank E. Flowers
Starring: Priyanka Chopra, Karl Urban, Temuera Morrison, Ismael Cruz Córdova
What if John Wick was a retired pirate lady just trying to raise a family? And what if some bad pirate dudes from her past came to get her gold? That’s basically what happens in The Bluff. Priyanka Chopra plays Ercell who, on the surface, appears to be a merchant fisherman’s wife. She is, however, a former bad to the bone pirate whose past is coming to bite her in the form of the bloodthirsty Captain Francisco Connor, played by Karl Urban. Will she be able to protect herself and her family from a crew of cutthroats and murderers in the waning days of the piratic heyday?
One of the most interesting parts of this movie is how grounded it is. This is not a Captain Jack Sparrow-type adventure. Ercell’s personal history involves being trafficked as an indentured servant after being kidnapped at twelve years old. She has clearly lived a life of abuse and exploitation, but also one of blood, violence, and death. She is the latest entry in the “Retired Badass” subgenre. When these pirates arrive, they have no idea who they are dealing with. What follows is some of the most brutally realistic pirate action you are likely to see. Guys get their faces bashed in with conch shells, blasted by cannons at close range, set on fire, their legs split from calf to hip with daggers, eaten by caimans, decapitated, hacked with machetes, and more. It’s like Home Alone: The Unrated Edition, all building toward a final duel between Ercell and Connor.
Get Nathan Boegel’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Priyanka Chopra is really good as Ercell. She convincingly portrays both a caring mother devoted to her son and the animalistic violence she unleashes to protect her family. The dichotomy between those two sides of her character is constantly on display, and Chopra transitions between them seamlessly. Karl Urban is a consummate professional in this kind of action film. He portrays Connor with an unwavering determination that makes him an effective villain. He is not driven simply by the stolen gold but by the betrayal Ercell inflicted on him years earlier. Urban never overacts or chews the scenery. He simply is Francisco Connor.
Small Observations:
- It is always good to see Temuera Morrison. He gives his usual solid performance as Connor’s quartermaster and second-in-command who — while not a good man by any means — is clearly the more reasonable of the two. His concern is the safety of the crew and recovering the gold, not Connor’s quest for vengeance.
- While the film is mostly focused on the action, there are moments of hokey writing, particularly in the interactions between Ercell and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth. Connor generally gets the stronger dialogue, but the writing is not one of the film’s greatest strengths.
- The cinematography in this film is great. It really makes the island feel like paradise. I can understand why Ercell would choose to retire there after leaving her pirate life behind.
- There is nothing important about this, but there is an actor in this movie named Zack Morris. He never once freezes time to break the fourth wall, nor does he help anyone named Screech. I found this mildly disappointing.
- MCU actors: 1
Overall Rank: A
Brutal. Great lead characters. Beautifully filmed. It’s as straightforward as possible. Recommended.
