Red centers around an incredibly moving concept – a widower’s dog is shot by three young punks in the woods in a botched attempted robbery – and powered by a soulful, heartfelt performance by Brian Cox as widower Avery Ludlow.

What makes this film hard to watch is its predictability (of events and dialogue) and existence of a female reporter who’s drawn to Ludlow’s case, joining him in a crusade for justice – a crusade that seems almost impossible to win, as the shooter boy’s father is a well to-do businessman who believes that his lying son didn’t pull the trigger. Ludlow gets targeted for intimidation and tragedy ensues for all.

Red,/i> crashes hard at the end, shifting slightly into the horror genre for a hokey standoff between father and son vs. Ludlow.

Grade: C

Red releases in select theaters Aug. 29.