Why Set It Off is the most underrated action film of all-time

Set It Off features underrated action scenes

This movie wastes no time getting the audience on the edge of their seats. In the very first scene, a bank teller from an impoverished neighborhood recognizes a few men in the bank from the neighborhood she grew up in. She’s nervous because it’s not very likely they have accounts at the bank. Her instincts are correct. The men proceed to pull off an arm robbery which is followed by a shoot out and a high speed chase.

While there are plenty of bad movies that are full of shootouts and high speed chases, Set It Off does not fall into that category. This film has an excellent storyline and the action scenes fit nicely into the flow of the story.

The character development is deliberate and the motives behind the actions taken are clearly communicated. Some movies are so full of shooting that audiences are not sure who they should be rooting for. However, this story is told well enough that picking sides will not be hard for viewers who find themselves emotionally invested in the outcome.

Besides the opening scene, there are three more armed robberies throughout the film. However, the most impressive scene is saved for last. I fully believe that that last sequence in Set It Off qualifies as the most underrated high speed chase in the history of cinema. There are changes of directions, bullets flying everywhere, helicopters, bridges, tunnels and plenty of suspense. Any moviegoer who craves a thrill is sure to enjoy this film.