“Absolution” (*1/2 out of four) was an absolutely empty pulp melodrama about a retired Vietnam veteran (John Mefford) who saves the life of a young girl (Mariana Garcia Montes) from a brutal street gang and incurs their wrath and vengeance but they don’t realize who they’ve messed with as he serves up grisly vigilante justice. Interesting premise but thoroughly stale result and becomes rancid and sordid. Mefford’s sincere performance is wasted.