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Maximum Conviction
Maximum Conviction
Maximum Conviction
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Maximum Conviction
Official movie poster
Directed byKeoni Waxman
Written byRichard Beattie
StarringSteven Seagal
Steve Austin
Production
company
Release dates
  • November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) (USA)
  • January 12, 2013 (2013-01-12) (Japan)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Maximum Conviction is a 2012 action thriller starring Steven Seagal and Steve Austin and directed by Keoni Waxman. The film follows a former black ops operative and his partner decommissioning an old prison, but are soon dealing with mercenaries going after two female prisoners.

Plot

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It should be an easy day's work for former black ops operative Cross and his partner Manning. They and their group have been hired to oversee and orchestrate the decommissioning of a secret military penal facility, and organize the transport of the inmates to their new civilian prison.

Cross shows who's boss early on by beating up a large inmate who steps out of line, while Manning is given the task of running the prison's garbage facility. The day gets worse when a rolled up note is found that was accidentally dropped by an inmate, detailing times and locations for an attack on the facility.

Cross, on his way back to the prison from running an errand, and Manning, still dealing with that garbage facility, are suddenly involved in a foothold situation as Chris Blake and his mercenaries, posing as marshals, take over the complex.

Blake and his men are after the two newest inmates—Samantha Mendez and Charlotte Walker—for their own purposes—Blake wants the information that is in an implant that is inside of Samantha, who is a CIA courier, because it could lead to a lot of money for Blake, and it turns out that Charlotte is working for Blake. It is up to Cross, Manning, and their team to stop Blake and his men.

MP Fields turns out to be a traitor and kills two of the others. Blake cuts off Warden Samuel's finger to force him to know where the detainees are. Manning is attacked Collins and his team. He manages to kill two and flee the area. Cross returns to the complex and kills two of Blake's men. Blake holds Warden Samuels hostage, forcing him to do anything so Blake can reach Charlotte. Later on Charlotte escapes as she wants to get paid. Eventually both sides meet up. Blake thinks he has Cross and Manning outgunned and then flees the scene, with Cross pursuing him. Manning catches up with Collins and kills him by impaling him on a bench. Samantha kills Charlotte, while the remnants of Blake's mercenaries including MP Fields are killed by Bradley and the others. Cross and Blake exchange gunshots till both run out of ammo. Blake attempts to strike Cross only to be thrashed around and badly injured. Cross talks to him about being a warrior in which Blake replies 'well that's me im the fucking bad guy'. Cross says he is the good guy then hurls Blake into the laser trip wires, killing him. He reunites with Samantha and Manning. He jokes that 'in ain't over till we're dead'.

Cast

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Background

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In an interview with MTV, Seagal explained that he stuck with the story given to him, polished the overall plot and action scenes to be realistic as possible, and got along with Steve Austin during the filming process.[1]

Critical reception

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Eoin Friel of The Action Elite said: "Maximum Conviction has plenty of flaws and if you're looking for lots of depth, you won't find it here however, if you're looking for a slam bang, ass kicking action movie with plenty of violence, great fight scenes and one-liners then you're in for a treat."[2] Lukas Spathis of Voices From The Balcony felt the film's script had "weak" characterization with mediocre performances, critiquing that Austin's portrayal of Manning showed some "degree of enthusiasm" despite a low "engagement level" to the role, and criticized Waxman's filmmaking for being "pretty subpar" in the action sequences, calling it "a generic and subpar VOD action outing with little to make it stand out besides one sequence with Steve Austin in the latter half of the movie. As someone who has seen a couple of Waxman's movies: he's not a good director. Stay away and look up the kitchen fight scene on YouTube."[3]

References

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Maximum Conviction

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Maximum Conviction is a American action thriller film directed by Keoni Waxman, starring as former black ops operative Tom Steele and Steve Austin as his partner . The story centers on Steele and Manning, who are assigned to decommission an abandoned prison and oversee the transfer of two female convicts, only to defend the facility against a mercenary assault aimed at extracting the prisoners. The film was produced by Steamroller Productions and distributed by Voltage Pictures, with a screenplay by Richard Beattie, marking Waxman's third directorial collaboration with Seagal following Abandoned (2010) and A Dangerous Man (2009). It premiered directly to video on November 6, 2012, in the United States, receiving mixed reviews for its straightforward action sequences and familiar B-movie tropes, while holding a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 8 critic reviews. Critics noted the film's reliance on Seagal's and Austin's tough-guy personas, with the plot revolving around revelations about the convicts' true identities and a corporate conspiracy behind the attack. Despite its low budget and direct-to-video release, Maximum Conviction exemplifies the 2010s wave of action films featuring aging action stars in high-stakes, confined-space confrontations.

Overview

Plot

Former black ops operatives Cross and Manning are assigned to oversee the decommissioning of a secret military prison, including the transfer of its remaining inmates to a civilian facility. As part of the process, two female convicts arrive: Samantha Mendez, a CIA courier implanted with sensitive data, and Charlotte Walker, a double agent working with external forces. The routine operation turns chaotic when Cross subdues a rebellious inmate to extract information, uncovering hints of an impending threat. A rolled-up note accidentally dropped by an inmate reveals the details of an attack plan, prompting Cross and Manning to prepare defenses. Soon after, mercenaries led by Chris Blake, posing as federal marshals, invade the facility to seize Mendez and extract the implant's information, which pertains to a covert government program. The assault escalates with betrayal from within, as military police officer Fields turns against the team, killing two guards and aiding the intruders. Intense confrontations ensue throughout the , with Manning engaging in brutal close-quarters combat in the kitchen and Cross eliminating several mercenaries using improvised tactics. Charlotte Walker attempts to flee after revealing her alliance with Blake, but Mendez kills her in a struggle. In the climax, Cross faces Blake in a gunfight; declaring himself the "good guy," Cross hurls Blake into a trap of trip wires, killing him and thwarting the invasion. Cross, Manning, and Mendez ultimately defend the , eliminating the remaining mercenaries and securing the implant's secrets related to the covert government program.

Cast

The principal cast of Maximum Conviction features as Cross, a former black ops operative tasked with leading the prison's defense efforts. Steve Austin portrays Manning, Cross's trusted partner and fellow operative specializing in weapons handling. In supporting roles, plays Chris Blake, the antagonist leading a team of mercenaries with a specific agenda involving the facility. appears as Bradley, one of Blake's key mercenary operatives. stars as Charlotte Walker, a with covert connections. takes on the role of Samantha Mendez, another linked to intelligence operations. Additional notable cast members include Zak Santiago as MP Fields, a military police officer involved in the prison's security. Ian Robison portrays Warden Samuels, the facility's administrative head. The ensemble's physically demanding roles align with the film's action-thriller demands, requiring expertise in combat and stunts.

Production

Development

The screenplay for Maximum Conviction was written by Richard Beattie in collaboration with director Keoni Waxman, who contributed to the script while developing ideas for the second season of the television series True Justice. The project originated between seasons of True Justice in 2011, emphasizing a high-stakes prison siege narrative that integrated black ops operative protagonists with a mercenary invasion plot to heighten the thriller elements. Keoni Waxman was selected to direct, continuing his ongoing partnership with that began with The Keeper (2009) and (2009). served as the primary production company, positioning the film as a action thriller targeted at fans of the genre. Leads and Steve Austin were chosen for their proven action credentials, with Seagal drawing on his experience to inform the black ops realism in the plot and sequences.

Filming

Principal photography for Maximum Conviction commenced in late 2011 and spanned several weeks in , , , which served as a for the film's depicted . Production utilized industrial sites and soundstages to construct the secret environment, but faced significant challenges when the primary location was abruptly lost mid-shoot to the Man of Steel production, which dismantled and rebuilt the site for its own needs, necessitating rapid on-the-fly adjustments to the schedule and setups. The action sequences, including intricate fight choreography for and mercenary assaults, emphasized practical stunts performed by leads and Steve Austin, who handled many of their own physical demands alongside coordinated team efforts. Practical effects were employed, enhancing the film's tangible intensity. Cinematographer Nathan Wilson and editor Trevor Mirosh focused on dynamic, fast-paced visuals through quick cuts and close-up framing to heighten the action's urgency, culminating in a finalized runtime of .

Release

Distribution

Maximum Conviction was released primarily as a direct-to-video title in the United States on November 6, 2012, distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment in association with production company Voltage Pictures, targeting the home entertainment market without a wide theatrical rollout. The film's low-budget production facilitated this video-on-demand and physical media focus, allowing efficient distribution to action enthusiasts via DVD and Blu-ray formats. Internationally, the rollout began earlier in the with a DVD premiere on October 26, 2012, followed by on October 26, 2012, for DVD and Blu-ray, and extended to on January 12, 2013. This staggered release strategy emphasized key markets for action films. Marketing efforts centered on the high-profile team-up between and Steve Austin, with official trailers released online in September 2012 that showcased intense action sequences and the stars' tough-guy personas to appeal to fans of 1990s-style thrillers. Promotional activities included interviews, such as Seagal's discussion on November 5, 2012, where he highlighted the film's collaborative energy and action elements, timed to coincide with the U.S. launch. Post-release, the film achieved broader global reach through streaming platforms, becoming available on for audiences in select regions.

Home media

Maximum Conviction was released on DVD and Blu-ray as a combo pack in the United States on November 6, 2012, by . The edition featured special features including an track with executive producer/director Keoni Waxman and co-executive producer Binh Dang, a featurette, a stunts featurette, a weapons featurette, and the theatrical trailer. As a direct-to-video release, its DVD and Blu-ray sales provided the primary revenue stream, achieving strong initial performance within the action genre's home media market. In digital formats, Maximum Conviction was added to streaming on November 7, 2013 (). It later became available for rent and purchase on platforms such as and , with ongoing accessibility on services like , , and as of November 2025 (). International home media releases varied by region, including a Blu-ray edition in on November 7, 2012, and a DVD release in the on March 18, 2013. No 4K UHD remasters or significant re-releases have been issued as of 2025.

Reception

Critical reception

Maximum Conviction received mixed to negative reviews from critics, though currently lists no Tomatometer score. The audience score on is 25% based on over 250 ratings as of 2025. User ratings on average 4.7/10 from 7,600 votes as of 2025, reflecting similar lukewarm reception among audiences. Among the more favorable critiques, Eoin Friel of The Action Elite commended the film's action sequences for their intensity and brutality, stating that "every fight scene kicks some serious ass too" and highlighting the entertaining chemistry between leads and Steve Austin, even as he acknowledged the "thin plot" and lack of depth. Conversely, many reviewers lambasted the screenplay and performances. Chad Michael Van Alstin in Blogcritics called the story "so weak it can’t even sell the horrendous action sequences" and decried the "terrible" acting from the principals, while faulting director Keoni Waxman for producing an with "absolutely no style whatsoever." Similarly, a review in The Last Thing I See criticized the script for "needless complications" that bog down the pace and noted Seagal's inauthentic performance, with fight scenes rendered choppy through poor editing focused on mid-torso shots. Overall, the critical consensus recognized Maximum Conviction as a serviceable low-budget action vehicle that provides visceral thrills through its fight choreography and violence but is undermined by clichéd plotting, shallow character development, and mediocre execution. The film received no major awards or nominations.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119474/
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/maximum_conviction_2012
  3. https://www.netflix.com/title/70234691
  4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119474/plotsummary/
  5. https://www.explosiveaction.com/2013/01/maximum-conviction-2012.html
  6. https://die-hard-scenario.fandom.com/wiki/Maximum_Conviction
  7. https://alchetron.com/Maximum-Conviction
  8. https://outlawvern.com/2012/12/17/maximum-conviction/
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119474/fullcredits/
  10. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/118683-maximum-conviction/cast
  11. https://www.actionreloaded.com/interview-action-director-keoni-waxman-comes-to-chat-with-me/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915394/
  13. https://movieweb.com/exclusive-steven-seagal-talks-maximum-conviction/
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119474/locations/
  15. https://www.thelastthingisee.com/2012/11/dvd-review-maximum-conviction.html
  16. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/118683-maximum-conviction
  17. https://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Conviction-Steven-Seagal/dp/B0090EDEM8
  18. https://www.voltagepictures.com/library/detail?id=a49c05af-1b3c-44aa-5c0d-b827c350ce08
  19. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Maximum-Conviction-Blu-ray/53652/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119474/releaseinfo/
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft30ndQJ5ss
  22. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Maximum-Conviction
  23. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/maximum-conviction
  24. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Maximum-Conviction-Blu-ray/137671/
  25. https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/dvd/maximum-conviction
  26. https://theactionelite.com/maximum-conviction-2012-review/
  27. https://blogcritics.org/dvd-review-maximum-conviction/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119474/awards
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