Agent Jayne: A Woman With A Mission

Agent Jayne: A Woman With A Mission (2024) is an hour-long action-thriller. The film has a Bollywood feel throughout, evident in its excessive repetition, over-the-top editing, and constant tonal shifts. The editing choices in Agent Jayne are often cheesy; for instance, when the phrase ‘money laundering’ is spoken, a cartoon explosion of money fills the screen. However, considering the dark themes of the film, the excessive, juvenile look of sequences like this one aptly balances out the heaviness of the film's tragedies, maintaining its fun feel. 

The film’s main focus is an in-depth look at the devastating impacts of drug addiction on young people. The story closely follows private detective Agent Jayne as she investigates those responsible for the dealing of harmful substances. Over the course of the film, she risks her life with the mission of preventing further deaths and punishing the criminals responsible for the teenagers’ deaths. A major point of discussion is the dark topic of children suffering from drug addiction. The film navigates these themes lightly, focusing more on maintaining a fast pace and an exciting narrative through the actions of the film’s protagonist, Jayne. 

The film utilises its low budget of $50,000 through incorporating cheap editing tactics, such as tacky transitions, resulting in some sequences appearing like an advert aimed at children. Whilst viewers may find this to be corny, this absurd look adds to the enjoyment of the film and, in a way, aligns with the film’s clear purpose as a staunch anti-drug campaign.

The film contains several sequences with sleek cinematography, where high-quality camera equipment has been used and shots have clearly been carefully positioned. Several of these shots are well-lit and demonstrate a keenness for and strong ability in masterful filmmaking. Although these moments are infrequent, they certainly propose potential for further instalments of the Agent Jayne franchise to have a more defined, cinematic look after the filmmakers acquire a larger budget to work with. 

As the film studies the tragedies at play in a world corrupted by crime and where the vulnerable are dominated by evil, power-hungry individuals, its use of music and erratic editing can often feel off-putting. The score consists of loudly using fragmented melodies to build up tension; however, due to its excessive use and blaring volume, the music often overpowers what is occurring on screen. When paired with the film’s cartoonish editing, there are particularly jarring moments. For instance, a tragic depiction of an adolescent dying suddenly from a drug overdose is accompanied by an action-esque rhythm to build tension. This suddenly transitions to a clearly computerised image of a newspaper article, bluntly reporting on the death. Moments like this feel slightly tone-deaf, and this quick, blasé structure of presenting deaths is reused several times, taking away from the morbidness of the film’s overall message. 

As well as the film’s plot, the film’s performances do not always fit well with the erratic feel of the film. Dialogue is delivered in an unnatural, deadpan tone, feeling, unfortunately, blatantly artificial. This clunky acting style is consistent throughout the film and occasionally works for comedic value; however, when blended with fantastical action sequences as well as social realism, it feels slightly out of place and brings the film’s enjoyment down slightly. The subpar acting is particularly disappointing as the story builds to its climax, and its wild and whimsical style encourages viewers to get lost in the action.

Despite its flaws, the film as a whole is, without a doubt, an exhilarating ride. Its continuous fast pace through sudden location shifts and time changes, as well as its supervillain-esque characterisations and fanciful lighting and editing choices, mean there is never a dull moment in Agent Jayne. The film’s message, whilst starkly important, does not always feel close to the filmmaker’s heart, as the action-packed plot and overall feel of the film encourage a more thrilling, immersive viewing experience than one that leaves viewers pondering the tragedies of drug use. It is only a shame that the passion and excitement of the film’s style and set design do not resonate within its performances.