In a surprising twist, Beckinsale’s husband finds himself kidnapped, completely oblivious to the fact that he’s married to a spy. This sets off a chain of events involving villains demanding a top-secret file, thrilling action scenes, and an abundance of gunfire—all while looking good in a trench coat.

French director Pierre Morel, known for his work on the original Taken, directs this film, which essentially serves as a reimagining of that story. This time, the plot centers around a female spy with a unique set of skills who must rescue her husband, unaware of her clandestine career. Unfortunately, while the gender-swapped angle offers a few moments of levity, such as the heroine confronting her adversaries over workplace slurs, the film overall feels rather generic.

However, Morel excels in crafting intricate action sequences, particularly the high-speed car chases through European streets in an unnamed Croatian city, utilizing sights from Zagreb and Ljubljana. The casting is a highlight, with the athletic and strong-jawed Kate Beckinsale stepping into the role of Avery Graves. She adopts an American accent for most of the film, although comedic moments arise when her British roots peek through during certain disguises. While it’s clear that stunt doubles carry the weight in some action scenes, particularly during the less coherent hand-to-hand combat, Beckinsale remains visible in medium shots and close-ups.

Despite a few makeup bruises and scratches, Beckinsale appears strikingly chic throughout, dressed in form-fitting outfits, sky-high heels, and a stunning chocolate leather trench coat gifted by her husband David, played by Rupert Friend. David becomes the kidnapping victim in the film’s opening act, forcing Graves to go rogue against her own agency to rescue him. The kidnappers demand that she obtain a secret file known as Canary Black, with its true nature slowly unveiled as the plot unfolds. As with any thriller, nothing is quite what it seems.

As for its visual appeal, the film provides a steady rhythm of gunfire and explosions, typically against nighttime backdrops. The color scheme leans heavily on blacks, fitting for its title, contrasted with sodium-lit oranges and rubble-like neutrals. The technology featured in the film is almost as notable as the costumes, perhaps hinting at a faint feminist message, but in truth, the film lacks depth or subtlety.

Canary Black is now available on Prime Video.