Reviewed By: Flickman
After finishing Poker Night, I can’t say I was very impressed. It tries to blend elements of a thriller, horror, mystery, and crime film, but the execution feels awkward. The movie relies heavily on constant flashbacks that don’t always feel necessary and often fail to connect in a meaningful way to what’s happening in the present.
The story follows Stan Jeter (Beau Mirchoff), a detective who is abducted while attempting to save a young woman named Amy, who herself was kidnapped two weeks earlier. Jeter wakes up locked in a basement, unsure of who his captor is, and must find a way to escape while also saving Amy. The film suggests that Jeter can use lessons he learned during poker nights with fellow detectives to survive. In theory, this is an interesting concept, but in practice it falls flat. The “lessons” mostly consist of other detectives recounting old cases, which don’t offer much practical help for Jeter’s situation.
I understand what the writers and director were aiming for, but it feels like the movie loses focus on what its story is supposed to be. Instead of staying centered on Jeter and the danger he’s currently in, the film constantly jumps back and forth to unrelated stories from the past. The problem is that each case is different, and the choices made in one situation don’t necessarily apply to another. As a result, many of these flashbacks feel more like distractions than meaningful contributions to the plot.
One thing the film absolutely does have going for it is its cast. With actors like Ron Perlman, Giancarlo Esposito, Ron Eldard, Titus Welliver, and Michael Eklund, it’s certainly not lacking in talent. Everyone delivers solid performances, but unfortunately, most of them spend their screen time sitting around a poker table telling stories. Outside of the flashbacks, there isn’t much for them to do.
I’m keeping this review relatively short because the movie itself feels scattered and difficult to fully break down. While it’s an interesting idea for a crime thriller, it’s not something I’d want to revisit. The ending isn’t very impactful and feels rushed, leaving things unclear. With so many flashbacks, it becomes hard to tell whether the killer is truly dealt with or still out there.
Overall, Poker Night is just an okay movie. The premise is solid, but the storytelling could have been far more focused and easier to follow. If the flashbacks had been more relevant to the main plot, the film might have worked much better. Instead, the reveal ultimately ties back to someone Detective Jeter accidentally killed in a previous case, which feels somewhat irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Apologies if that spoils anything, but it doesn’t really change the experience.
I can’t fully recommend Poker Night, but I can’t completely dismiss it either. It’s one of those films that might appeal to fans of crime and thriller elements, yet still leave them disappointed or confused by the end. If you’re looking for something different and have nothing else lined up, it might be worth giving it a chance.
Overall Verdict: Not a bad movie, but to many useless flashbacks take away from the main focus. If you're big on the crime/thriller/mystery/horror genre and have't seen it yet, it might be worth checking out.
Releasing: February 27, 2026
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Releasing: March 6, 2026