You're Not A Jason Momoa Fan If You Haven't Seen His 2018 Action Thriller

Jason Momoa is actively gearing up to star in "Fast & Furious" director Justin Lin's "Helldivers" video game movie, and it will likely only continue his ascent as an A-list megastar. That's great and all, but more people ought to be talking about a different, but related, action thriller altogether — namely, 2018's "Braven," an unsung siege movie that showcases Momoa at his brutish best.

"Braven" is a B-grade actioner that has Momoa playing a lumberjack who fights drug dealers in a log cabin. His character is known as Joe Braven, which is an excellent name for a dedicated family man who's also a force of destruction. For most action buffs, Momoa + drug dealers + log cabins is probably enough of a selling point to watch this. However, "Braven" also co-stars genre veteran Stephen Lang as the ailing father of Momoa's character, a fellow who, despite suffering from dementia, is still a bona fide tough guy. What's not to love?

Now, let's clarify some things about the term "B-grade." What we really mean is lowkey, especially compared to "Aquaman," "Fast X," and the other blockbusters Momoa is known for. As far as pure entertainment goes, "Braven" gets an A+, and I'd argue that it's better than Momoa's more high-profile actioners — and I say that as a fan of most of them. We need more movies like this delightful slice of carnage cake, as it calls back to the genre's glory days.

While it's true that some of the best action movies of the 21st century are larger-than-life blockbusters, many of them pale in comparison to the lean, simplistic fare of the 1980s and '90s. You know, those 90-minute flicks starring actors like Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jean-Claude Van Damme? We're talking about films that center on basic sieges, rescue missions, and survival stories, as led by lovable macho heroes with muscles.

Throwback action movies of this ilk still exist (shoutout to Jason Statham, Gerard Butler, Scott Adkins, and director Isaac Florentine for doing the Lord's work), but they are often relegated to January theatrical releases or the annals of DTV and streaming. "Braven" exists in this grungy realm, and it's perfect viewing for fans of high-octane cinema that has blood on its knuckles and dirt in its nails. 

If you like action movies that force characters to be resourceful, this is the one for you. Jason Momoa's character takes on highly-equipped baddies with hunting rifles, arrows, and anything else he finds around the cabin. He isn't borderline mythic like John Wick. He's simply a family man who finds himself in a sticky situation. One might even call "Braven" a grounded film, but it's still delightfully ridiculous.

Momoa is a superstar now, and he has earned his success. Long may that continue, but he should also make more movies about the Joe Braven character, as this lumberjack is one of the hunky actor's best roles to date.