Nine years after the four-season horror-sci-fi TV show came to an end, the titular gun-slinging demon hunter (played by Melanie Scrofano) returns for a feature-length outing.
Wynonna is forced to come home to battle her greatest foe yet – psychotic seductress Mina (Karen Knox) who is hellbent on revenge against her and everyone she loves.
I was a big fan of the series and this brisk 96-minute adventure is a worthy addition and comeback.
Director Paolo Barzman is in familiar territory, having helmed 21 episodes of the show, while writer Emily Andras is also back on board.
This really does just feel like an extended episode from the series – which is both good and bad.
Good because there’s a comfort to once again seeing all of the characters we fell in love with, and that we don’t delve into wide detours you often see in movie versions of television shows.
But bad as more could’ve been done to make Vengeance feel like a special event amid greater stakes; as it is, Wynonna and crew have felt under more peril in several of their previous escapades.
In an obvious attempt to rectify this, one of the main crew is killed off and while it creates an emotional moment, it feels rushed – and I’m not convinced the fate is for keeps.
However, the ensemble remain as cool, fun, straight-talking and endearing as ever.
Scrofano’s Wynonna is a truly modern heroine with a tough attitude and selfless soul doing what is best for her family and friends.
Katherine Barrell’s Nicole excels as she takes on extra responsibility, Tim Rozon’s soft-spoken Doc exudes charm and deadpan humour, and we learn more about Wynonna and her eager sister Waverly’s (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) family past.
Like Vengeance as a whole, though, Knox’s villainess doesn’t hit the heights you’d hope and expect; ironically, her and the movie would’ve worked better being fleshed out across a full-season TV run.
● What are some of your favourite feature-length adaptations of television series?
Pop me an email at [email protected] and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.
● Wynonna Earp: Vengeance is available on DVD and Blu-ray now.
