‘The Bluff’ Review: Priyanka Chopra Jonas Brings Ferocity to Formulaic Pirate Thriller

Amazon Prime Video’s “The Bluff” marks a brutal departure from the swashbuckling romanticism of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean,” trading witty banter for visceral violence and delivering a home-invasion thriller disguised as a period pirate epic. Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas in a physically demanding lead role, the film offers glimpses of excellence while ultimately settling into competent mediocrity.

The film follows former pirate Ercell Bodden, who lives a quiet life on Cayman Brac with her disabled son Isaac and sister-in-law Elizabeth, both unaware of her violent past. When pirate Captain Connor arrives seeking revenge and gold she stole from him, Ercell must become “Bloody Mary” once again to protect her family.

Priyanka Chopra plays Ercell Bodden, also known as Mariam, a Malayali pirate known as “Bloody Mary” who was formerly an East India Company slave. The Tribune reported that IMDb users noticed that inscriptions of Mary’s name shown in the film are written in Malayalam, the official language of Kerala state in India. Priyanka Chopra’s maternal grandmother Mary John (later converted to Hinduism as Mrs. Akhouri) was a native of Kerala. 

In an interview with Pro Kerala, Chopra explained that her character’s story reflects the historical reality of indentured servitude: “My character’s story, her parents and her family are indentured servants, which was the truth of many, many people, especially in India where young people were told better opportunities, new lands, more money come with us.” 

Critical Reception: Mixed Reviews

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 61% of 41 critics’ reviews are positive. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.

The movie has a strong start and a unique view on the topic of colonization, but as it wears on, the fun of the fight scenes morphs into a slog.

Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com gave the film 2.5 stars out of 4, writing that “The Bluff” exemplifies a very enjoyable type of nostalgia-bait, even if it’s never as good as its elevator pitch. According to his review, watching “The Bluff” is a bit like watching an expensive-looking fan fiction adaptation since it’s usually as schematic and lifeless as a live-action story outline, and only really comes to life when its star co-leads get to roam around on-screen. 

Owen Myers of The Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, noting that Chopra Jonas gamely commits to the pulpiness of “The Bluff,” even as it doesn’t ask much of her beyond its impressive action sequences and a few tart one-liners. 

Keith & the Movies offered more positive assessment, calling it a pulpy action-packed swashbuckler that takes the fun of other high seas pirate adventures and laces it with the brutal and bloody action of an old-time B-movie. 

Chopra Jonas’s Physical Performance

The film showcases Chopra Jonas in what many reviewers consider a career-defining action role. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chopra Jonas said she wanted her face to be visible during action sequences: “This movie required my face to be on camera a lot. I do enjoy it when I’m watching an action movie and I can see the actor’s face while they’re doing it.” 

A Different Kind of Pirate Film

Director Frank E. Flowers and co-writer Joe Ballarini created a film set in 1846, during the waning days of the Golden Age of Piracy. According to In Review Online, the film has very little seafaring, the violence is grueling, and it’s about small folk rather than rich captains and governors’ daughters. Cayman Islands native Frank E. Flowers’ approach to the industry of piracy de-romanticizes the rogue seafarers and uses grim social conditions to realize pirates that a smart viewer can root for without guilt. 

AVForums described the film’s approach, noting that The Bluff goes all-out with its first act attack, unleashing the dual sight of Karl Urban going to town with then-advanced weaponry and his own set of impressive skills, whilst Chopra battles in the background to keep her family safe. 

The Weakness: Thin Characters, Predictable Plot

Jeffrey Lyles of Lyles Movie Files was more critical, writing that Flowers and co-writer Joe Ballarini spend a half hour showing the formidable nature of Connor’s crew only to make them incompetent buffoons who suddenly develop Stormtrooper aim and can’t hit Ercell. 

Alise Chaffins wrote in her Substack review that the movie has a strong start and a unique view on the topic of colonization, but as it wears on, the fun of the fight scenes morphs into a slog with thinly drawn characters. She added that without knowing much of the backstory between these characters, it’s hard to really root for one or the other. 

Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India offered a measured assessment, observing that it’s a familiar narrative, even if it offers Chopra Jonas the chance to impose her physicality on a culturally generic role. From a Bollywood-crossover-talent point of view, it’s impressive how she commits to a character that’s more grunt than dialogue, more body than heart, more survivor than speaker. 

Cultural Significance

South Asian Herald’s Rajiv Vijayakar noted that with “The Bluff” there is a wider reason: Priyanka Chopra is not just the lead actor but also one of the key producers. The setting, the background, even the timeframe may be completely out of sync with Indian cinema of today, but the story and screenplay, and again its emotional tenor, are more than identifiable as our style. 

Final Verdict

“The Bluff” was produced by AGBO, Cinestar Pictures, and Purple Pebble Pictures, with Chopra serving as a producer alongside the Russo brothers, Angela Russo-Otstot, and others. Principal photography took place in Australia from June to August 2024, though the film is set in the Cayman Islands. Homeland Security

The film delivers exactly what it promises: brutal, R-rated pirate action anchored by a committed performance from Priyanka Chopra Jonas. While it never transcends its formulaic structure or thin characterization, it succeeds as visceral entertainment that showcases Chopra Jonas as a legitimate action star. For viewers seeking a gritty alternative to family-friendly pirate adventures, “The Bluff” provides bloody satisfaction, even if it sails familiar waters.