UPDATE: The embargo has lifted, and “Havoc” reviews are mixed; 58 on Metacritic.
The consensus seems to be that the action is great, but the plot is too thin, which is an accurate assessment of “Havoc.” However, did you expect anything else? It’s not like ‘The Raid’ was a masterclass in character and depth. I say, when you watch this one on Friday night, just press play, sit back and enjoy the carnage on screen.
EARLIER: Yes, now that the social media embargo has lifted, the quote whores are out in full force, showering Gareth Evans’ “Havoc” with praise. However, having seen the film myself, though in no mood to dump my thoughts onto the chaos that is X/Twitter, I have to say, it’s very watchable.
I’ll keep it brief for now: despite the lack of serious competition, Evans’ latest is hands-down one of the best Netflix original action movies of the last few years. Is it perfect? Nope. Is there any character development? Barely. But a couple of the action set-pieces floored me. This is a film that’s HEAVY on action, and relentless in its pursuit to numb the senses. The review embargo drops next week, and I’ll have more to say then—but yeah, it delivers.
That said, it’s a damn shame we won’t be seeing this frenetic beast on the big screen. This thing was made for theaters. The fact that Netflix is dumping “Havoc” straight to streaming is borderline sacrilege. Evans himself has called the film his "love letter to the heroic bloodshed genre [and] the films that came out of Hong Kong in the '80s and '90s." Those films were cinematic experiences—loud, visceral, larger-than-life—and Havoc deserved the same theatrical rollout.
But here’s the good news: after nearly four years in post-production purgatory, “Havoc” is officially in the can. And while the delays were frustrating, anticipation for this one hasn’t cooled. In fact, it’s only grown stronger, especially with Evans returning to the full-throttle, bone-crunching action of his ‘Raid’ roots.
Originally wrapped in October 2021, “Havoc” stars Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker, Luis Guzmán, and Timothy Olyphant. Here’s the official synopsis:
After a drug deal goes awry, a detective must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son, while untangling his city's dark web of conspiracy and corruption.
Evans, of course, is the madman behind “The Raid” and “The Raid 2,” “Apostle,” and the ultra-violent, prestige-pulp series “Gangs of London.” He’s known for a style that’s equal parts elegant and savage—blood-soaked ballet with a bruising edge.
This looks so bad it might actually be good? Cage's fat suit and makeup couldn't be more unsubtle or distracting, and the same goes for his accent, which doesn't match Madden's. I’m sold.