In the 80s, Edward Woodward was Robert McCall – an ex-secret service agent who offers his skills to the general public free of charge, using all his spy-skills to exact justice upon thugs, drug-dealers, bullies, kidnappers and various other evil types. For an 80s action series it was unusually violent. Woodward managed to get nominated for five Emmy awards during the run of the series.

Almost 20 years later, it’s time to lug it back for some big-screen action. Denzel Washington’s in place this time as McCall (Denzel’s actually older than Woodward was when he played the role, but he doesn’t look it), who comes out of a self-imposed retirement to protect a young hooker (Moretz) from the Russian mafia.

Trading in 80s New York for 2014 Boston, Denzel’s version has the same spirit of serving justice to the downtrodden, the same secret past, and, yes, the same level of violence. While this is also a reunion between Denzel and Antoine Fuqua, the director who got him an Oscar for Training Day, this is probably not an awards-contention film. But if you’re just looking for violence, vengeance and action, this is for you.