Langley Kirkwood
Johan Greser
Overview
Over the course of one fateful day, a corrupt businessman and his socialite wife race to save their daughter from a notorious crime lord.
Cast
8 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Day the City Held Its Breath
I’ve seen this story before—a corrupt businessman, a crime lord, a kidnapped daughter, a clock ticking down to midnight. The ingredients are familiar, almost comforting in their predictability. But what Collision does with them isn’t. Or at least, it tries not to be.
The film opens with a jolt: a car screeching to a halt, a man in a tailored suit stepping out into the neon glow of Johannesburg’s nightlife. Langley Kirkwood plays Richard, the businessman in question, and within minutes, you can feel the weight of his choices pressing down on him. His posture is rigid, his jaw set—classic alpha-male tension—but there’s something else there, a flicker of panic in his eyes that suggests he’s not just fighting for his daughter.
He’s fighting for the version of himself he’s spent years constructing. (And maybe, just maybe, he’s starting to realize how fragile that version really is.)
The premise is simple: Richard’s daughter has been taken, and the ransom demand leads him into the orbit of a crime lord named Vusi, played by Vuyo Dabula. What follows is a series of confrontations, chases, and revelations that unfold over the course of a single, frenetic day. The film’s 99-minute runtime doesn’t waste a second—every scene is either moving the plot forward or peeling back another layer of its characters.
That’s both its strength and its weakness. There’s no fat here, but there’s also no room to breathe. By the time the credits roll, you feel like you’ve run a marathon alongside these people, and not always in a good way.
Martorell’s direction is efficient, almost clinical in its precision. The camera lingers just long enough to let you absorb the tension before cutting away, and the editing keeps the pace relentless. It’s the kind of film where you’re constantly aware of the clock ticking down, not just in the story but in the very rhythm of the scenes.
There’s a moment early on where Richard’s wife, Claire (Tessa Jubber), is on the phone with the kidnappers, her voice steady but her hands shaking. The camera holds on her face for a beat too long, and you can see the moment she realizes she’s in over her head. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing that makes Collision feel like more than just a genre exercise.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 6.5/10
"A tense but uneven crime thriller with strong performances that struggles to fully escape familiar tropes."
Viewers appreciate the gripping tension and solid acting, particularly from the lead cast, which keeps the story engaging despite its flaws. latestnetflix.com's take is that however, the plot’s reliance on well-worn crime drama clichés and underdeveloped side characters leaves some feeling the film doesn’t reach its full potential.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Langley Kirkwood and Tessa Jubber deliver compelling performances that anchor the film’s emotional and dramatic weight.
- Gripping tension The film maintains a tense atmosphere throughout, keeping audiences engaged in the unfolding crime drama.
- Stylish direction Fabien Martorell’s direction is praised for its visual flair and ability to build suspense effectively.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar crime thriller tropes, making it feel unoriginal to some viewers.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including those played by Bonko Khoza and Mpho Sebeng, lack depth and fail to leave a lasting impact.
- Pacing issues Some scenes drag, disrupting the film’s momentum and making it feel longer than necessary.
Recommended for
Crime thriller enthusiasts Fans of tense dramas Viewers who enjoy strong performances South African cinema lovers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Collision (2022): A High-Stakes Thriller with French Precision and South African Grit
Fabien Martorell’s Collision (2022) arrived on Netflix as a sleek, high-octane thriller, blending the director’s signature visual precision with the raw energy of its South African setting. The film, a Netflix original, marks Martorell’s first foray into the streaming giant’s library, and it’s a project that leans heavily into his background in crime and action cinema 
. latestnetflix.com's take is that but what’s the story behind the making of this tense, 99-minute ride?
A Director’s Vision: Martorell’s Thriller Playbook
Martorell, a French filmmaker known for his meticulous approach to storytelling, has built a reputation for films that balance emotional depth with relentless pacing. Collision is no exception. Described as a mix of thriller, drama, and police procedural, the movie reflects Martorell’s knack for crafting narratives where every frame serves a purpose . While details about his creative process on Collision are scarce, his past work suggests a director who prioritizes atmosphere and character tension over flashy gimmicks.
The film’s South African backdrop isn’t just a setting—it’s a character in itself. Martorell’s decision to shoot in the country adds a layer of authenticity to the story, though specifics about the filming locations or challenges remain unconfirmed. What is clear is that the director’s French sensibilities collided (pun intended) with the local talent, resulting in a film that feels both globally polished and distinctly African .
The Cast: A Mix of Veteran and Rising Stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmDxTrJa3XA
Collision assembles a cast that brings both experience and fresh energy to the screen. Leading the pack is Langley Kirkwood, a familiar face in South African cinema, who plays a role that—based on the trailer—demands intensity and gravitas . Alongside him, Tessa Jubber (The Woman King) and Bonko Khoza (Blood & Water) add star power, while relative newcomers like Zoey Sneedon and Mpho Sebeng round out the ensemble .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ppCiR_dmI
One standout name is Vuyo Dabula, best known for his role in The Woman King and Blood & Water. His involvement in Collision hints at the film’s ambition to bridge local and international audiences. The chemistry between the cast is palpable in the trailer, where snappy dialogue and high-stakes confrontations take center stage . Rumor has it that Martorell’s hands-on directing style pushed the actors to deliver performances that are both raw and tightly controlled—though, without on-set reports, this remains speculative.
Reception: A Polarizing Ride
Collision hasn’t exactly set the world on fire with its critical reception. On SensCritique, the film holds a modest 3.7/10 rating from 34 votes, a score that suggests it’s either a love-it-or-hate-it experience . The trailer, however, tells a different story—one of slick action, sharp editing, and a premise that hooks viewers instantly . Netflix’s decision to greenlight the project likely hinged on its potential to deliver binge-worthy tension, even if the final product didn’t win over every critic.
One thing’s for sure: Collision isn’t Crash (2005), Paul Haggis’s Oscar-winning drama, despite the confusingly similar title . Martorell’s film is a tighter, more streamlined beast, designed for audiences craving adrenaline over introspection. Whether it succeeds depends on who you ask—but its existence proves Netflix is still betting big on mid-budget thrillers with international appeal.
The Bottom Line: A Flawed but Underrated Gem?
With limited behind-the-scenes details, Collision remains something of an enigma. What we do know is that it’s a film that plays to Martorell’s strengths: taut storytelling, striking visuals, and a cast that brings the heat. The mixed reviews suggest it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for fans of crime thrillers with a pulse, it might just be worth the ride.
For now, Collision sits in the shadows of bigger Netflix hits, but its director’s growing reputation—and the undeniable talent of its cast—could see it earn a cult following in time.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.