Arghhh matey! Despite the incredible success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the pirate genre is woefully under-represented in modern cinema. It’s actually fared better on the small screen, with the gritty under-rated drama Black Sails and the short-lived comedy Our Flag Means Death. And let’s not forget the iconic Captain Pugwash.

That trend continues with this Amazon Original, that although would certainly look at home on the big screen, set sails on their streaming site, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban.

1846 and the world at sea is a slightly calmer place thanks to the demise of pirates.

Living on the small island of Cayman Brac is Ercell (Jonas), with her disabled son Isaac (Vedanten Naidoo) and sister-in-law Elizabeth (Safia Oakley-Green). It’s an idyllic life, until trouble comes a-calling; notorious pirate Captain Connor (Urban) has it on good authority – Ercell’s hubby – that she has his gold in her possession, and he wants it back.

Soon enough he and his men wash up on the shore of the island, and they’re in no mood for an island tour. Ercell soon finds the lives of herself and her family under threat, and has to resort to her past life in order to survive.

Frank E. Flowers has had a patchy career as director at best, and although he’s directed a number of music videos, his last film, which was also his directorial debut, was 2004’s Haven. This then, has been a long time coming, and shows some clear signs of rust.

It’s certainly picturesque, filmed mostly in Australia, and the island and its inhabitants are very believable. Less so is the acting.

Flowers has gone for a more caricature approach to the characters, which includes Urban sporting yet another ridiculous accent – this time semi Irish – as they rattle around in a simplistic storyline. Put a peg on his leg and he would make a fine Captain Hook in a cartoonish way.

Jonas gets very physical, channelling Lara Croft, in many satisfyingly violent scenes. But with the characters lacking any subtlety, and a predictable narrative, the film as a whole doesn’t quite gel. Which is a shame as Jonas certainly commits to the physicality of the role, and Urban cuts the dashing figure of a pirate, if nothing else.

It’s a big film, that was clearly too big for Flowers, who looks all at sea at times, and his lack of experience is there for all the world to see.

For another pirate film it has its moments, especially with its violence, but sadly X doesn’t quite mark the spot with this one.