Havoc Review- Tom Hardy’s Brutal Action Film Misses The Boat
We have loved Tom Hardy in all his previous hard-core action movies, especially last year’s Venom: The Last Dance.
We have loved Tom Hardy in all his previous hard-core action movies, especially last year’s Venom: The Last Dance. However, this one did not meet our expectations.
In the race of going bigger and badder, Tom Hardy’s Havoc did not meet the viewers’ expectations as the trailer had set before. Here is our Havoc review that will help you decide whether you should stream it or skip it while it stays on Netflix.
Plot details of Havoc
In our previous article, we gave an overview of the plot of the movie Havoc. Still, for revisiting purposes, the story revolves around a battered detective named Walker (played by Tom Hardy). He is on a mission to rescue a strong politician’s estranged son, but for that, he has to fight his part and face the underworld.
He realizes that he is stuck in a dark web of corruption and intricate conspiracies in which the entire city is entangled. Watch the trailer here to refresh the story:
Tom Hardy’s performance in Havoc
Despite being the battered and bitter guy from the 90s who is here for one purpose only- to knock some people down, with ruthless action strikes, he is trying his best to keep his life from eroding more.
Apart from that, Hardy’s performance is as raw as in any other movie. The physical strength combined with the appearance of a corrupt detective anchors well with the film’s chaotic action sequences.
The script seems shallow sometimes, and the plot is predictable, which does not keep the audience intrigued. An action movie should include a mind-blowing action experience, but the story does matter, which keeps the viewers in their seats.
It is the emotional storytelling today that creates a difference. Predictable stories are not something that will keep the audience excited till the end of the film. The action in Havoc is surely unforgettable- it’s not for the faint-hearted, by the way- but the script did not mesh well with Hardy’s unbeatable presence.
Although Hardy portrayed Walker in full form, with brute force, and emotional depth as he was already broken, and was completely weighed down by his past regrets, he did not fail to astonish us with powerful and impactful action sequences.
There is no doubt left in Hardy’s physicality, but the predictable script and overused CGI robbed the magic from Hardy’s performance, regardless of the well-choreographed action.
What do critics add to Havoc review?
The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes gave a mixed review of the film. It said,
“An anemic crime saga punctuated with bravura action sequences, Havoc may feel like a retread of director Gareth Evans’ past glories, but for audiences addicted to his balletic style, the formula still rips.” [Source]
High-octane violence, blood, and unfaltering fight sequences are all praised by the critics, though they believe that the storyline remains a bit weak. All you can see is Tom Hardy and action, as if these two elements have taken all the spotlight.
The negative critique is full of serious comments that the film only includes noise and chaos. There is only a body count and no “actual symphonic choreography” that disappears somewhere.
Fans reaction
Fans have been constantly comparing it to John Wick, but with more violence, as they confirm that this is not for weak-hearted people. Fans know that John Wick was about precision, while Havoc is messier.
Most of them commended the martial arts tricks and even liked the somewhat infusion of the movie Blade. They are happy with Hardy’s performance as he is doing what he is best at. His character, though, looked weak at some points due to the script’s frailty.
Is it worth watching?
Just for the love of Tom Hardy, yes, it is. The poster of the movie says, “No law, only disorder”, which is correct in terms of the film’s ability to keep the audience’s interest intact.
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If you are a fan of barbaric action, you can expect to see bodies flying here and there. If you are a fan of destruction, the police might not be the ones who you anticipate to be playing the right part, the police are here to protect themselves only, which matches well with the film’s tagline.
Gareth Evans has ensured some insane stunts to make your jaw drop down to the floor, but since his direction is mostly full of intense action filmmaking, heavy camera work, and excessive use of violence, the same is served here in Havoc. Some of the best action scenes take place in the nightclub.
His approach sometimes includes the use of CGI to make the action scenes look more brutish, but the climactic scenes still make a long-lasting impression despite a lack of depth in the story.
Overall, the movie is a good watch if you like bone-crunching action.
Our rating: 6/10
Is Havoc available for streaming?
Yes, Havoc (rated TV-MA) is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Genre: Conspiracy thriller, drug crime, Gun Fu, martial arts, action, mystery
IMDb rating: 5.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 65 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 39 percent on Popcornmeter
Cast: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Forest Whitaker, Timothy Oliphant, Narges Rashidi
Director: Gareth Evans
Writer: Gareth Evans
Producers: Gareth Evans, Tom Hardy, Ed Talfan, and Aram Tertzakian
Release date: April 25, 2025
Movie runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Have you watched Havoc yet? Do you agree with what we have reviewed here? Let us know in the comments below.
