R-rated 'gory as hell' thriller compared to John Wick is Netflix's most underrated movie

Checking the reviews of a new TV show or film is a process we all go through when deciding on what to watch next on Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video.

But when you find something you like the look of, only for critics' reviews to give it a measly rating, you doubt whether you should really be committing hours of your life to something that might end up being a bit naff.

Thought sometimes it's worth the plunge - and critically, it's worth seeing what other ordinary folk rated the film or show as.

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One Netflix Original film is the perfect example of why critics shouldn't always be listened to when it comes to what makes a good watch.

The thriller-action movie, released in 2019, scores a measly 18 percent on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Leah Greenblatt, of Entertainment Weekly, called it 'a gleefully unhinged teenage-boy dream that aims only for hard, shiny surfaces, and stays there'.

While Chris Vognar, from the New York Times, went further, saying: "If it has any redeeming qualities, it chooses to keep them a secret."

And Peter Rainer, from FilmWeek, labelled it 'grody to the max'.

Despite these rather sub-par critic reviews, it still has a solid 70 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

One fan said: "The movie was top notch unadulterated action with great scenes and effects... loved the way it was directed and executed."

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A second added: "Great action movie. A little bit gory but very watchable. The leads and villains are great! Soundtrack excellent."

A third commented: "Unpredictable gory creative camera angles. Think John Wick with torture and irony. You never saw it coming. Not for the squeamish or weak of heart."

The film in question is Netflix's Polar, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Vanessa Hudgens, Katheryn Winnick, and Matt Lucas.

It's directed by Jonas Åkerlund and is based on the webcomic and graphic novels, Polar: Came From the Cold by Victor Santos.

Netflix advertises the film as 'an assassin on the verge of retirement must put the good life on hold when his greedy boss sends a squad of young, ruthless killers to take him out'.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the critics consensus reads: "An action thriller starring Mads Mikkelsen as the world's most dangerous assassin should be terrifically entertaining, but Polar proves it's possible to ruin anything if you try."

If you want to see how it compares to critics' reviews, Polar is available to stream on Netflix now.