Watching the movie gives no indication of the story being a sequel because it is so different from the previous 12 Rounds movies.
The story has different characters and more action. The other movies follow a man forced to complete a series of tasks within a specific timeframe. Lockdown refers to the limited amount of bullets the main character holds in his gun in order to achieve his task of nailing the bad guys.
Directed by Stephen Reynolds, the story follows John Shaw (Dean Ambrose), a cop. Shaw just returned from an extensive leave after undergoing a gunshot wound and the death of his rookie partner. Fellow officer Tyler Burke, played by Roger Cross, brings tension to the story because he is a dirty cop involved in a drug-dealing venture. Rookie cop Jenny Taylor, played by Sarah Smyth, discovers evidence against Burke and tells Shaw. He investigates and confronts Burke and his team’s connection to drug dealing.
Burke needs to get rid of Shaw because he knows about his dirty dealings with drugs. So, he and his team evacuated the entire police building and locked it down. They are intent on hunting down Shaw and killing him. Shaw only has and clip for his revolver, with 12 rounds, which is why the movie’s title is “12 Rounds.” That is not all. Shaw has more on his hands than just Burke and his gang chasing him down. He is being set up by Burke, who is trying to frame him. Burke is telling Captain Matthews, played by Rebecca Marshall, that Shaw is responsible for the homicides during the lockdown. Officer Taylor is also locked in the building and doesn’t know whom to trust.
This sequel is comparable to the original Die Hard, with many shootouts and fistfights. The movie uses the same old action style, and it is worth watching if you are a huge fan of Dean Ambrose.
