Havoc Full Movie Review: Gareth Evans Unleashes Brutal Action!
By Azeem_USA
A Rave Review (Spoiler-Free!)
What is happening everybody! Azeem_USA here, back with a rave review for Havoc, the latest action movie from maestro Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy. It drops on Netflix, so this will be spoiler-free – though honestly, spoiling action beats like "he shot that guy in the face" doesn't quite capture the visceral thrill.
I've got a bit of a cold, wasn't really in the mood, but decided to watch Havoc anyway. Let me tell you, when those action scenes kicked in, I sat straight up! This movie is insane, intense, and just plain rules. It genuinely makes you ask: is the action movie making a comeback?
What is Havoc About?
For the first half, I thought Havoc was shaping up to be a really intense, disturbing cop drama about corrupt cops and gangsters, maybe even mild on the action. But then, Gareth Evans flips the switch.
The official premise goes something like this: After a drug deal goes awry, a bruised 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.
What's fascinating is the setting. It's not New York, LA, or London. It's a fictional, ambiguous, corrupt city dialed up to 11. Evans shot it in Wales, creating a world entirely from his imagination, free from established geography. This allows for insane car chases, over-the-top shootouts, and deeply corrupt characters – all feeling grounded within its unique, hyper-stylized reality.
Gareth Evans: The Action Maestro Returns
Around the halfway point, Gareth Evans reminds you exactly who he is: the guy behind The Raid: Redemption, The Raid 2, and the best episodes of Gangs of London. And then the action hits, and it will set people's brains on fire. The intensity is off the charts.
Some might argue for Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us) or the legendary John Woo, and while I love their work, Evans right now feels like he's operating on another level. He's proven time and again he's arguably the best director of action alive today. He took his time establishing the world and characters, making the eventual explosion of violence even more impactful.
Hardy, Waterson & Standout Performances
Tom Hardy is fantastic as the bruised detective, Walker. Forget the cheesy Venom movies; here, Hardy brings gravitas, a dark side, guilt, and complexity. He navigates a world of shifting loyalties where cops, gangsters, and corrupt officials all have dirt on each other. Hardy, with his extensive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background (he competes!), also brings authenticity to the physicality, especially any ground fighting.
But let's talk about Michelle Waterson (referred to as Michelle Wat in the review). The MMA fighter (UFC, Invicta) is a revelation. She is ruthless, lethal, and hardcore. You'll be asking why she hasn't already starred in 15 action movies. Evans clearly understands casting real fighters adds incredible legitimacy.
We also get great work from Forest Whitaker as the desperate, corrupt politician and Timothy Olyphant as a fellow officer. But the big surprise is Yeo Yann Yann as "Mother." She commands the screen with such presence and stone-cold ruthlessness, she makes most Hollywood "girl bosses" look pathetic. She's terrifying without throwing a punch.
The Action: Intense, Insane, and Unforgettable
While there's solid character work, Havoc leans more towards a "shoot 'em up" than a pure martial arts film, though Waterson provides thrilling martial arts moments. Evans blurs these lines, much like in The Raid or Gangs of London.
The action choreography and photography are slick, but what stands out is the sheer brutality. This movie lets guns be guns – no fake-looking digital muzzle flares or blood here. When someone gets shot, it's visceral, graphic, almost like Texas Chainsaw Massacre levels of gore. It's horrific, yet thrillingly executed. You feel the impact.
There are glorious scenes of mayhem, but also brief, incredibly intense moments, like a shocking kidnapping sequence. Evans also plays with physics, especially in car chases, blending gritty reality with fantasy elements (think Kung Fury but grounded) where vehicles do impossible things, yet it works within the film's heightened world.
Is the Action Genre Making a Comeback?
I grew up on '80s action, and the genre has felt overshadowed lately. But between recent solid entries and now Havoc, it feels like action might be rearing its head again as superhero dominance fades. Horror is thriving, and maybe action is next. Havoc certainly makes a strong case. While different from films like Warfare (more battering) or Sinners (action within another genre), Havoc delivers pure, uncut adrenaline.
Even compared to the popular John Wick series (which I enjoy), Gareth Evans operates on a different level of intensity and filmmaking craft, in my opinion.
Netflix Release & Final Verdict
My biggest bittersweet feeling about this incredible Havoc full movie review is that it deserves a big theatrical release. It feels like a missed opportunity not putting this on an IMAX screen for even a week or two before it hits Netflix. This movie was shot back in 2021 and faced numerous delays (reshoots, strikes), almost feeling lost in a black hole. I worried it was buried because it wasn't good. Nope. It's incredible.
My fear now is it drops onto Netflix and gets lost in the algorithm shuffle. Please don't let that happen. This is NOT second-screen content. Turn off your phone, turn off the lights, focus entirely on this movie. It demands your attention.
If you've been craving a truly cool, intense, and masterfully directed action experience, Havoc delivers. It absolutely rules and is easily a contender for one of the best movies of 2025 (yes, the year feels like it's finally delivering!). Go watch Havoc!
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