With The Bluff, director Frank E Flowers attempts to revive the swashbuckler style of storytelling for today’s streaming audience. The film arrives with scale, strong visuals, and clear star power. It tells a pirate story in a fresh way. The title itself carries meaning. A “bluff” here does not refer to deception. It means a steep cliff by the sea. That detail matters. Much of the story unfolds on a distant island defined by high cliffs overlooking the ocean. These cliffs are not just scenic backdrops. They shape the tension, influence the strategy, and set the mood for the battles that follow.
At the heart of the film is Ercell Bodden aka Bloody Mary (Priyanka Chopra Jonas). She is a former pirate who has left her violent past behind and now lives quietly on the island of Cayman Brac in the Caribbean with her caring husband T H Bodden (Ismael Cruz Córdova), her young son Isaac (Vedanten Naidoo), and her sister-in-law Elizabeth Bodden (Safia Oakley-Green).
But the past refuses to stay buried. Her former captain, Francisco Connor (Karl Urban), returns with revenge on his mind. Ercell is forced to become the fierce fighter she once was in order to protect her family.
The story is simple and direct. The film wastes no time on lengthy setup. It quickly establishes the environment and moves into conflict.
Much of The Bluff rises and falls on Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and she meets that weight head-on. The camera stays with her, and she commands it. There is fire in her eyes and steel in her stance. Every movement feels deliberate. Every glance carries history.
In the action sequences, she does not merely perform. She attacks, defends, survives. From flashing sword fights to brutal hand-to-hand combat, she moves with the confidence of someone who owns the battlefield. You can sense the hours of training behind each strike and turn. Nothing feels careless.
But what makes her performance stand out is not just the physical power. It is the emotion beneath it. She plays a woman once feared across the seas, now fighting not for glory or plunder, but for her family. There is rage, yes, but also fear, love, and a deep instinct to protect. That tension gives the character weight.
The film rests squarely on her shoulders, and she carries it with force and conviction.
The action is gritty and grounded. This is not a glossy pirate adventure filled with grand ship battles. In fact, there are no large clashes at sea. Most of the conflict unfolds on land. The cliffs, dark caves, and thick bushes of the island become part of the strategy. Ercell knows the terrain and uses it to her advantage. The combat feels closer to guerrilla warfare than open confrontation.
Many action scenes are shot in low light, which adds to the tension. The sound design works effectively, often letting you hear danger before you see it. That said, the final battle feels shorter and less intense than expected. Because much of the action unfolds in dark and through stealth tactics, it never quite builds into a fully explosive climax.
While the emotional stakes are clear, especially around family and revenge, the screenplay does not explore the characters in great depth. The focus remains on moving the story forward. Some viewers may appreciate this straightforward approach. Others may feel the film could have gone deeper into the psychological and emotional layers.
Pirate films inevitably invite comparison with genre classics (Captain Blood (1935), The Sea Hawk (1940) or the new age Pirates of the Caribbean franchise). Certain elements may feel familiar. Still, placing a woman at the center of this narrative gives The Bluff its own identity.
For all the Priyanka Chopra fans The Bluff is very much her film, and fans will enjoy seeing her lead from the front in such a commanding and intense role.
All in all, the film works best as a tight, action-driven drama built around a strong central performance. Whether it becomes a standout in the genre depends largely on how deeply viewers connect with its emotional core and its island setting framed by the steep sea cliffs that give the film its name.
Movie: The Bluff
Directed by: Frank E Flowers
Featuring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Karl Urban, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green, Vedanten Naidoo, Temuera Morrison-, Zack Morris, David Field, Pacharo Mzembe, Gideon Mzembe
Run Time: 1hr 41mins
The Bluff
3.5