REVIEW: 'Havoc' Blurs The Line Between Pain And Pleasure

Havoc is Netflix's latest action thriller, not holding back any punches as it is helmed by the legendary Gareth Evans, who delivered the greatest action movie of our generation, The Raid. This new entry features an ensemble cast with the likes of Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker, Justin Cornwell, Jessie Mei Li, Luis Guzmán, and Timothy Olyphant.

The film follows a cop named Walker (Tom Hardy), waging war on the criminal underworld. Havoc ensues after a botched drug deal puts a target on a politician's son. Now Walker has to rescue him from the city's most dangerous criminals, including corrupt officials.

What you see is what you get with Havoc. The film delivers all of the high-octane action, gruesome imagery, and meticulously choreographed fight scenes it promised. Though the story itself is straightforward, viewers are guaranteed a thrilling theatrical experience at home, as long as they can stomach the gore on par with that of an R-rated horror movie.

Wreak Havoc

Havoc is essentially Garrett Evans' introduction to mainstream Hollywood blockbusters. After working on the foreign hit, The Raid, Hollywood has been awaiting his mark on the action genre, but Netflix got to him first. The story feels formulaic and predictable, with no new plot points to offer. The dynamic between the characters is one we have seen many times before, and the villains are obvious and one-dimensional. Despite those setbacks, Evans manages to deliver an explosive film with his eye for directing.

Though John Wick remains the face of action movies in this generation, Havoc is a strong, persistent contender. The fight scenes and action sequences are exhilarating with brilliant choreography, stunt work, and editing that allows viewers to be immersed in the scenes organically instead of feeling disoriented, unlike many mainstream films, which I will not name.

The Faces Of Havoc Fight For Their Lives

The familiarity of the characters did not stop the cast from taking their roles seriously. At no point does it look like anyone is phoning it in. The cast internalized their characters to synchronize with the director, establishing a relatability we can appreciate. Hardy and Cornwell portray a couple of outcasts on the road to redemption that resembles survival.

Hardy's Walker is a disgraced cop still facing the consequences of his actions, while Cornwell is Charlie, the son of a politician who made enemies out of various gangs. The pair, eventually brought together by imperfect circumstances, complement each other well with their tortured souls. Their screen time together is a bonus value for Havoc to boast as they dig deeper holes for themselves.

Havoc Is Guilty of Crowd Pleasing

Havoc lacks substance in terms of writing and relies primarily on its leads and action sequences. Fortunately, the talented, charismatic cast, stunt work, and fight scenes take care of the heavy lifting. While Gareth Evans disappoints with the script, his directing prowess remains unimpaired.

I still enjoyed the film, and I have no doubt audiences will as well. If you want an intense and exciting movie with visceral hand-to-hand combat, chaotic violence, and gore, Havoc has you covered.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

About Havoc

Premiere Date: April 25, 2025

Executive Producer:

Writer: Gareth Evans

Director: Gareth Evans

Production: One More One, Severn Screen, XYZ Films

Distribution: Netflix

Cast: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Luis Guzmán, Michelle Waterson, Sunny Pang, Jim Caesar, Xelia Mendes-Jones with Yeo Yann Yann, Timothy Olyphant, and Forest Whitaker.

Synopsis: Walker (Tom Hardy) is a bruised detective fighting his way through the criminal underworld threatening to engulf his entire city. In the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong, Walker finds himself with a number of factions on his tail; a vengeful crime syndicate, a crooked politician, as well as his fellow cops. When attempting to rescue the politician’s estranged son, whose involvement in the drug deal starts to unravel a deep web of corruption and conspiracy, he is forced to confront the demons of his past.