THE ENFORCER

The Enforcer is a 2022 crime and action thriller directed by Richard Hughes and set within the criminal underworld of Miami. The film centres on Cuda, played by Antonio Banderas, an ageing enforcer who has spent years working for a powerful and ruthless crime boss named Estelle, portrayed by Kate Bosworth. Cuda has long carried out violent tasks without question, but as the story unfolds he begins to confront the moral consequences of his life and the organisation he serves.

As the narrative develops, Cuda forms a connection with a vulnerable teenage runaway named Billie. When he realises that the criminal network he works for is involved in exploitation and trafficking linked to her, he experiences a crisis of conscience and decides to turn against the very organisation that has defined his life. At the same time, he finds himself mentoring a younger operative known as Stray, played by Mojean Aria, creating a layered dynamic between experience, youth, and the possibility of redemption.

The film follows Cuda as he attempts to protect Billie while dismantling elements of the criminal operation from within. This sets him on a collision course with Estelle and the violent network that once employed him, leading to a tense and personal final confrontation. The story is ultimately driven by themes of redemption, loyalty, and the search for moral clarity late in life, presenting an ageing enforcer trying to make peace with his past by choosing a different path.

Visually and tonally, The Enforcer adopts a gritty, neon-infused Miami atmosphere with an emphasis on character-driven action rather than large-scale spectacle. It leans into the emotional and psychological journey of its central character, blending stylised night photography with a grounded narrative focused on consequence and personal responsibility. The result is a contained but intense action drama that explores what happens when a lifelong enforcer begins to question the system he has always served.