Fortress (2021)

Fortress (2021), directed by James Cullen Bressack, is a low-budget action-thriller that brings together Bruce Willis and Jesse Metcalfe in a tense game of survival and betrayal. Set almost entirely within a high-tech bunker in the woods — dubbed “the Fortress” — the film delivers a confined, cat-and-mouse story with an old-school action vibe.

The plot follows Robert Michaels (Willis), a retired intelligence officer living off-grid in a secret resort designed for ex-spies. When his estranged son Paul (Metcalfe) comes to visit, the base is suddenly attacked by mercenaries led by Frederick Balzary (Chad Michael Murray), a criminal with a vendetta against Robert. What follows is a shootout-heavy siege where trust is tested, and secrets from the past come to light.

Bruce Willis plays it cool and subdued — maybe a little too subdued — which has become typical of his late-career straight-to-video roles. Jesse Metcalfe carries much of the action, while Chad Michael Murray brings surprising energy and charisma as the villain, making him one of the film’s highlights.

With its limited setting and straightforward script, Fortress doesn’t break new ground, but it offers enough gunfights, double-crosses, and old-school tension to entertain action fans looking for a simple, 90-minute ride. The film spawned sequels (Fortress: Sniper’s Eye and Fortress: Eye for an Eye), proving its niche appeal.