We're in lawless Latin America where there's a kidnapping every sixty minutes...with 70% of the victims never making it home alive.

Into this seething mass of lowlife scum, corrupt cops, bent government officials and ruthless drug lords steps burnt-out, ex-special ops trooper John Creasy (Washington).

He's been hired by troubled industrialist Samuel Ramos (Anthony) and his American wife Lisa (Mitchell) to act as bodyguard for their nine-year-old daugher Pita (Fanning).

Bad business means Samuel can't afford the crème de la creme of hired guns so Creasy, whose closest pal is Jack (Daniels), gets the gig guarding the kid.

Initially aloof to the child's charms as he ferries her to-and-from school, Creasy falls for the golden-haired nipper (surprise, surprise) and a bond develops between them.

Of course, we all know we're being softened up for the inevitable nastiness and when it comes its like being punched in the stomach.

Creasy takes out four of the kidnappers, who include two off-duty cops who just happen to be in uniform, but the rest of the swarthy swine make off with cute-as-cherry-pie Pita.

Bad move. As Creasy's buddy Rayburn (Walken) explains to the Mexican authorities "Creasy's art is death…and he's about to paint his masterpiece."

Director Tony Scott is a sure hand when it comes to garrotte-tight thrillers and here he displays his deft hand for precision-engineered violence.

Creasy amasses a small arsenal and goes about laying waste to the vermin who've had just the slighest connection with the kidnapping.

Washington, spouting Spanish when he's not thumping a bible, dreams evermore ingenious forms of torture to get near the kingpin who co-ordinated the snatch.

So we're in for a meticulous assembly of choreographed killing as Creasy's net spreads and corrupt cops and shifty lawyers are taken out with machine-tooled bloodlust.

Fanning, after a series of duds like Uptown Girls, shows real star quality while Walken reigns back the urban nutter routine to deliver a performance of subtlety.

There's a bit of icky psychology along the way and Creasy occasionally appears to derive a tad too much enjoyment ramming explosives where the sun don't shine.

Better than Spy Game but not quite up there with Enemy of the State, this will be manna from hell rather than heaven for those who like their action vicious yet polished.

Tim Evans