Idris Elba makes everything better, even a hackneyed home-invasion thriller modeled from Cape Fear. But not even Elba nor a talent like that of his co-star Taraji P. Henson can rescue No Good Deed from being a dull, poorly structured bore.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jul 29, 2022

Although there are some continuity issues and plot points that bode disbelief, it doesn't detract from the white-knuckling terror that unfolds.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 14, 2019

It's not very easy to watch. Maybe it could be easier to take if the script was better, but this is low-level storytelling with too many head-scratching moments.

Full Review | Jan 25, 2019

The film doesn't even deserve the title 'poor man's Panic Room.' As for the twist - really, that is the surprise Screen Gems is withholding?

Full Review | Oct 10, 2018

No Good Deed is a box-office hit. It's also a very good thriller with a deep and important message.

Full Review | Sep 6, 2018

Although this must be one of the first movies in which an African American character goes golfing, aside from that cultural milestone it is notable for little else.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 30, 2017

For such a short movie, it takes so long to get past the bonding that once the situation becomes evidently dangerous, no amount of tension has built to sustain the rest of the film.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Aug 17, 2017

It's too pointless to be even a guilty pleasure, plunging past "low rent" into "no rent" territory, dragging two competent performers down into the mud with it.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Apr 15, 2016

"No Good Deed" made some decent box office and didn't cost much to make. Perhaps there'll be a sequel. "Good Samaritan Goes Bad" or "Call Triple-A, Cause I Ain't Opening the Door."

Full Review | Original Score: D+ | Jan 6, 2015

No Good Deed is one of the least inspired and laziest films of 2014, featuring a complete lack of originality and a waste of talent from Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 1, 2015

There's a few table-turning twists that lend a veneer of final-girl sister-power ... but little else to provide big-screen distraction.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 23, 2014

It is dismaying to see the brilliant Idris Elba and Sam Miller, his director from TV's Luther, working on low-grade exploitation fare like this.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 21, 2014

Not content with painting Idris Elba's escaped convict Colin as a thoroughly bad sort, the suspense-free home invasion movie No Good Deed has a score that assaults us with histrionic crashes and bangs.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 21, 2014

The plot stumbles lazily from one thriller trope to the next and, while it does provide some jumps, is predictable to the point where you can call the action before it happens.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 21, 2014

[A] routine thriller ...

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 20, 2014

This clunkingly terrible film is a baffling career move for Elba, and a waste of co-star Taraji P Henson.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 20, 2014

Elba gives good psycho smoulder and Henson occasionally gets to flex her acting muscles and break out of the damsel-in-distress clichs when she's fighting back against this conflicted home invader, yet neither can overcome the script's limitations.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 20, 2014

Elba and Henson both produced this crazily overwrought stranger-danger B-movie, so they're getting no free passes here.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 20, 2014

Sometimes you fancy the finest caviar known to humanity. Other times you fancy some greasy fish and chips. No Good Deed belongs in the latter category.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 20, 2014

There's nothing to distinguish TV director Sam Miller's pedestrian effort from scores of straight-to-download thrillers.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 17, 2014