Havoc Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Absolut crazy, fast speed action, with chaotic camera movement, brutal kills & an unhinged Tom Hardy. Havoc lives up to its name! 

Genre: Action / Crime / Thriller

Director: Gareth Evans

Cast: Tom Hardy, Jesse Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Sunny Pang, Michelle Waterson, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker & Luis Guzmán.

Run Time: 107 min.

US Release: 25 April 2025 (Netflix)

UK Release: 25 April 2025 (Netflix)

German Release: 25 April 2025 (Netflix)

What did I just watch? I just finished watching Gareth Evans’ new Netflix release, and the title could not be more precise. I love Evan’s The Raid, I like his sequel The Raid 2, and I was looking forward to this picture of his, which took four years to make. Evans is the master of chaos action, yet what he delivered here is on a completely different level. While I was having fun with this balls-to-the-walls high-octane feature, I also realised that it is far from the quality he delivered in his previous work. So, shoot through my review for Havoc with me!

Walker, a down-on-his-luck bruised homicide detective, needs to fight his way through the criminal underworld to save a politician's estranged son after a drug deal has gone wrong. Shooting his way through hordes of assassins, he unravels a web of corruption that engulfs the whole city.

Evans signed an exclusive deal with Netflix in early 2021 for this passion project. Filming began in mid-2021 and wrapped up in October 2021. Unfortunately, its release was delayed by a series of circumstances, ranging from strikes hindering reshoots to scheduling issues. Nearly four years later, it saw the light of day on the streaming platform. 

At first glance, Havoc looks like a straightforward take on the “heroic bloodshed” genre from Hong Kong; however, digging deeper, the story opens up a layer of complexities. At its core is a character-driven narrative, as the protagonist struggles with topics of morality plus justice. The plot is structured to support a relentless fast pace, aided by the shorter runtime. Is it generic? Yes, but in a completely original form. 

That said, the screenplay also has a fair share of problems. The rapid pacing doesn’t allow for an in-depth exploration of the subjects it unravels. Even though it is a pure action flick, it makes use of common tropes that restrict its originality. Finally, the crisp time of 104 minutes makes specific story beats feel a little convoluted.

The movie opens with a gloomy voice-over, setting up the atmosphere plus underlying topics. Dialogues provide contrasting perspectives between characters, as well as animosities, yet never go out of their way to be more profound, as most of the conversations are brisk.

By far, the largest issue of this premise is the representation of the villains. Surface-level motivation is given to their activities, without ever investigating backgrounds. As such, audiences are left with shallow antagonists.  

Tom Hardy plays Patrick Walker, a morally ambiguous homicide detective, who is entangled in a web of brutal corruption. Hardy gives a nuanced emotional portrayal, mixed with demanding physicality, adding an interesting chemistry with his co-workers. He displays a realistic internal struggle, paired with the persona's relentless drive to do the right thing.

Justin Cornwell as Charlie is the central MacGuffin of the picture, though he isn’t thoroughly fleshed out. His persona is rather annoying. Quelin Sepulveda, who gives a standout rendition as Charlie’s girlfriend Mia, on the other hand, gives an emotional balance to the overall narrative.

Jesse Mei Li takes on the role of rookie cop Ellie, who contrasts Hardy’s Walker well. The character adds a solid counterbalance in contrast to the world's high-stakes layout. Ellie is driven by a strong moral code that clashes with the city's underworld, as she is thrown into a case with Walker. 

Forest Whitaker depicts Beaumont, a politically motivated real estate tycoon, while Timothy Olyphant plays corrupt detective Vincent, who brings his usual grittiness to the role. Sadly, both roles are left underwritten, making both characters feel like caricatures. 

Michelle Waterson gives a mute, yet incredible physical performance as the assassin, reminiscent of The Raid’s Mad Dog. 

The central focus of this blockbuster is, without a doubt, the visuals! These are the driving forces by displaying over-the-top, mad action on screen. As per Evans’ signature style, gritty realism is blended with stylised violence, plunging viewers into its brutal setting. The subject of crime, corruption, as well as moral dubiety, is accentuated by the film's tone. The colour palette makes use of neon lighting, adding a neo-noir atmosphere, while the cinematography uses hand-held camera work plus kinetic movements, doubling down on its chaotic energy. 

The set design transformed Welsh locations into convincing urban landscapes. Sadly, the use of computer effects to enhance the city-like looks makes it look more unrealistic, nearly comic-bookish, which does deter audiences from a complete immersion. Also, the ridiculous amounts of shots out of a gun, without ever reloading, do hinder its realistic action. 

Aria Prayogi wrote the music for the streamer flick, inserting heavy brass and oomphing bass tones that merge well with the setting of the plot.

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Verdict: Wow… My brain felt like it was on acid after watching Evans’ Netflix chaos flick. It took the director/writer nearly four years to get it finally released on Netflix, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances. Was the wait worth it? I would say yes, because even though it isn’t a perfect action piece, Havoc is a refreshing take on its subgenre. The character-driven plot contrasts with the persistent rapid pacing; as such, specific details are left underdeveloped. Though original, the use of standard topics hinders its uniqueness. Hardy gives a nuanced performance as Detective Walker, depicting his internal struggle well. It is Quelin Sepulveda, however, who steals the show with her stellar performance. The cinematography uses lively movement, paired with handheld camera takes, to create disorientating action scenes. Havoc is a fun, imperfect, new action blockbuster, deserving of a 6.5 out of 10. 

Did you see Gareth Evans’ new feature on Netflix? If so, let me know in the comments what you thought. If you like the content, please like & share. As always, thank you for reading!