Henry Cavillwasn’t always the impressive and outwardly nerdy actor that fans know and love, and his early career includes a couple of stinkers that prove it. Before he became Superman in Zack Snyder’sMan of Steel, Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’sThe Witcher, cocked his biceps in theMission: Impossiblefranchise, and is now set to bring theWarhammer 40kuniverse to life on screen, he starred in a critically panned action thriller alongside Bruce Willis. Released in 2012, the film was slated by critics and was a box office bomb. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the actor, you probably haven’t seen the movie (and we can’t say we blame you). But, for those who are curious, it’s now streaming completely free.
A year before he kick-started the now-defunct DC Extended Universe inMan of Steel, Henry Cavill was the lead in Mabrouk El Mechri’sThe Cold Light of Day. The film featured a great cast, which also included the aforementioned Willis and Sigourney Weaver.The Cold Light of Daywas recently added to Pluto TV, the free streaming service. Even with that level of star power,The Cold Light of Daybombed at the box officeand was a serious flop with critics. The film grossed less than $4 million at the box office, which wasn’t even a quarter of its $20 million budget. Critics slated the movie when it was released, as it holds an abysmal 4% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were only slightly kinder, as it has a 29% audience rating.
Henry Cavill stars as Will Shaw, a young business consultant who goes on vacation with his family. But, when they’re kidnapped and will be killed if he doesn’t deliver a missing briefcase, he has 24 hours to find it and save his family. The official synopsis reads:
“Young business consultant Will Shaw (Henry Cavill) flies to Spain for a vacation aboard his family’s sailboat. When Will returns from some on-shore shopping, his family is gone and will be killed if he does not deliver a missing briefcase within 24 hours. As it turns out, his father (Sigourney Weaver) is not a cultural attache but a spy, and Will is in over his head. He must find a way to turn the tables on his enemies, or he and his family will all die.”
Henry Cavill Has Certainly Bounced Back From His 2012 Flop
It’s safe to say thatThe Cold Light of Daywasn’t the best film in Henry Cavill’s career. For some up-and-coming actors, such a flop would be a career killer. But, for Cavill, it began the cinematic comeback of the century. He followed it up withMan of Steela year later, which also led to the British actor reprising the role of Superman inBatman v Superman,Justice League, and theinfinitely betterZack Snyder’s Justice League.
Outside of the DCEU, Henry Cavill has also worked with Guy Ritchie onThe Man from U.N.C.L.E, andThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, as well as playing Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’sThe Witcher. Cavill’s next big project isChad Stahelski’s eagerly anticipatedHighlanderreboot,which is gearing up to shoot soon.
The Cold Light of Day
