The Bluff: Prime Video’s R-Rated Pirate Thriller Redefines the Genre

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is changing the face of pirate movies.

The action-packed adventure film is directed and co-written by Frank E. Flowers, along with Joe Ballarini. It stars Captain Connor, a pirate seeking revenge on Ercell Bodden, portrayed by . Once a pirate herself, Ercell now lives a quiet life on a secluded island and will stop at nothing – even resorting to violence – to safeguard her family and their lifestyle.

At the Los Angeles premiere of the new Amazon Prime pirate thriller, The Bluff, stars told ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan that the film is bringing a fresh take to the genre.

Safia Oakley-Green believes the appeal lies in the sheer scale and intensity of pirate stories. Everything is bigger – the landscapes, the ocean, even the emotions. People are deeply invested because they’re fighting for strong beliefs, and there’s a lot of passion and romance. She feels it’s a winning combination of elements that make a great film, and she thinks there aren’t enough pirate movies being made.

Safia Oakely-Green, who plays Elizabeth Bodden in the film – the sister-in-law of the main character – believes we need more pirate movies, especially those that focus on female leads. She’s actively hoping for a sequel and told ScreenRant she’d be thrilled if that happened.

It’s exciting to imagine watching Ercell and Lizzie develop, and to see what Vedanten [Naidoo] does next and what challenges he overcomes. We really need more pirate films that feature strong female leads, so let’s create them!

The film stars Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and expertly blends exciting action with a raw, realistic feel. Temuera Morrison, who plays Quartier-maitre Lee, told ScreenRant that Chopra-Jonas possessed a special quality—an “X-factor”—that made her ideal for the role of Ercell.

I was really impressed with Priyanka’s dedication and physicality. I saw her come off set several times looking bruised and exhausted. She’s incredibly captivating on camera—she just has that special something. And when she looks at you, she conveys so much power, depth, and emotion. I felt lucky to have even a small glimpse of that.

Priyanka Chopra-Jonas found inspiration for her role by looking inward and drawing on the performances of other iconic female action stars. She shared with SR Magazine at the premiere that she didn’t need to search far to embody the character of the vengeful pirate.

For me, movies like Tomb Raider and especially Uma Thurman’s performance in Kill Bill were really influential when preparing for this role. I kept asking myself, ‘How far would a parent go to protect their family?’ Kill Bill‘s Bride, driven by revenge after her life was taken from her, resonated with me. I connected with that feeling because I saw my ‘dream’ – my island, my life, my family – being threatened with destruction, just like she did.

Ismael Cruz Córdova, who portrays Ercell’s husband, T.H. Bodden, in the movie, completely agreed with this feeling.

The characters are larger than life, typical for the genre, but her performance keeps it feeling real and believable. It’s truly inspiring to watch – it certainly inspired me as an actor, both in her performance and how she carried herself on set. It all comes from a very primal, fierce maternal instinct. She’s not just a stereotypical ‘mama bear’; you wouldn’t want to get between her and her kids, that’s for sure.

Everything Else The Bluff Cast & Team Has Said About The Gritty Pirate Thriller

When you first wear your pirate costume, or any time you have it on, what’s the very first thing you do? What’s the one thing you absolutely have to do while wearing it?

You know, we really lucked out with the costume designer on this project. Once you put on the costume, you instantly feel powerful and want to grab a sword and start having an adventure!

ScreenRant asked what initially drew me to the movie. They pointed out that everyone enjoys a pirate story, and wanted to know what specifically made me excited to join the project and be a part of it when I first arrived on set.

Everyone dreams of being part of a pirate movie, so when the offer came, I jumped at it – maybe a little too quickly! My team asked if I’d even read the email, but honestly, it was a project with Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban – what more did I need to know? It became even more exciting when the director, Frank Flowers, explained the story’s origins. We often see pirate stories, but rarely do we hear about the people they impacted – the ones who were robbed and surprised. This film starts there, and Frank wrote it beautifully, balancing historical weight with the fun of a pirate adventure. It’s a really strong story with a perfect lead actor, and his performance is incredible. You’re not expecting the depth and intensity he brings to the role, and that energy lifted everyone involved.

ScreenRant: The first time you walked on a set. I mean, what a fun adventure to dive into.

Safia Oakley-Green was incredibly impressed with the movie’s set and production design, calling it unlike anything she’d ever seen. The filmmakers built entire villages and a complete cave system, which immediately signaled to her the scale and ambition of the project. She felt this detailed environment greatly enhanced the actors’ performances, allowing them freedom to move around and interact with realistic props and set pieces. The thoughtfulness and quality of the design made being involved in the film a truly amazing experience.

ScreenRant asked about the inspiration behind the film, noting my fondness for writing love letters to my home, the Cayman Islands, and specifically, The Bluff. They wanted to know what motivated me to make this movie.

Frank E. Flowers described the experience of working on a truly original project. He felt it was special to create something in a setting rarely seen in pirate films, which heightened the film’s intensity and uniqueness. The movie was intended as both a celebration of the culture and a fierce defense of family, community, and homeland. Flowers believes this combination resulted in a film that was powerfully authentic and emotionally impactful.

Check out more of our The Bluff coverage here:

  • Why Prime Video’s #1 Pirate Movie Is Taking Over The World
  • Chris Hemsworth’s Netflix Action Franchise Had A Big Impact On Karl Urban’s New R-Rated Pirate Action Movie
  • The Bluff Review: Priyanka Chopra Jonas Is a Convincing, Swashbuckling John Wick in Pirate-Set Action

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2026-02-27 04:21