(Cert 18, 146 mins): Starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Radha Mitchell and Dakota Fanning.

Directed by Tony Scott.

Man On Fire is an adrenaline-charged thriller with a pedigree to be proud of.

Based on the novel by AJ Quinnel (author of In The Name Of The Father), it marks a return to form for director Tony Scott (True Romance, Top Gun).

He really makes his directorial presence felt, endowing the film with a style and panache befitting the family name (brother Ridley has also been known to make the odd flick).

Denzel Washington turns in a typically sturdy performance as John Creasy, world-weary ex-CIA agent and alcoholic, whose closest friend Rayburn (the everfabulous Christopher Walken) brings him to Mexico City, kidnap capital of the world.

Creasy reluctantly accepts a job as a bodyguard, protecting the charming nine-year-old daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Pita Ramos (Fanning). Initially infuriated by the inquisitive tyke, her charm eventually wins his affection but, just when it seems Creasy has found redemption, Pita is kidnapped.

Determined to find the girl, Creasy embarks on a bloodthirsty rampage.

As Rayburn says of his kamikaze friend: Creasys art is death and hes about to paint his masterpiece.

This stylish remake of a forgotten 1987 Franco-Italian film looks the part but is let down slightly by a flawed script, moral ambiguities and gratuitous violence the torture scenes and inventive deaths may seem excessive to some. Still, Man On Fire is a visceral, engaging revenge flick.

One for the boys, perhaps?