Gareth Evans’s ‘Havoc’ Reviewed

Havoc is the long-awaited action thriller from Gareth Evans, the mastermind behind The Raid duology. The Raid films set a new gold standard for action cinema that’s yet to be fully captured within mainstream Hollywood. Those who want Havoc to be The Raid, part 3 may be disappointed by the lack of martial arts action. Yet, I have to respect Evans for trying to push himself in new directions as a director. Havoc is possibly Evans’s most ambitious film. The opening car chase is like the director throwing the gauntlet down and showing that he can deliver Hollywood-level thrills on a smaller budget.

“After a drug deal gone wrong, a bruised detective must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s estranged son, while unravelling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.”

The cast is full of great actors giving strong performances: Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker, Jessie Mei Li, Michelle Waterson, and Yann Yann Yeo. No matter how much screen time a character has, they all leave a lasting impression.

Havoc works as an explosive-thriller that will keep you guessing as all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The gunplay is more akin to that of a war movie, so it stretches believability that the whole cast isn’t dead by the mid-point of the film. While this isn’t a martial arts heavy movie, there is one standout fight in a nightclub that gives some great moments to Quelin Sepulveda‘s character.

Fans of the martial arts in The Raid films would probably prefer The Shadow Strays. However, those who enjoyed Gareth Evans’ other work like Apostle and Gangs of London should definitely check out Havoc.