We Die Young

Set in MS-13 territory in Washington. Fourteen-year-old Lucas is trying to keep his brother out of the gang and comes across a veteran living in the neighbourhood. The man, played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, came back from Afghanistan with trauma and, because of a wound to his throat, barely speaks at all. The notable thing is the part itself. An actor who spent most of his career on his lines and his kicks stays silent here, building the performance out of his face and his stance. That choice adds something that stands apart from the film's general B-picture frame. Lior Geller directed. The narrative does not romanticise the gang, but it does not deepen the social context either; what results is a tight genre film unfolding across a single day and built on pursuit. Who it is for: viewers curious about harsh, low-budget action thrillers and late Van Damme. Who it is not for: anyone uncomfortable with drugs and gang violence told through children.