Netflix’s New Action Film ‘Havoc’ Sees Tom Hardy Pump Out A Bloody But Predictable Action Classic

If an action fan doesn’t worship at the altar of filmmaker Gareth Evans, you must hand in your action credentials card immediately.

Evans is the architect behind the whiplashing Raid film series and the pummeling British crime drama Gangs of London, never shying away from intensifying the violence and filling the buckets of blood. Now, Evans brings his masterful massacre to Netflix with Havoc, starring Tom Hardy. Mild spoilers for Havoc to follow.

‘Havoc’ features a formulaic story and cookie-cutter characters

Look, Gareth Evans’ movies have never featured the most original of stories; instead, the secret sauce is in the execution. Havoc follows the same trend. Tom Hardy’s Patrick Walker is a miserable cop, who has done things he isn’t proud of. He dirtied his hands, lost his family in the process, and struggles with regret from his past. What he doesn’t want to do, though, is continue down the same road. Yet, Walker’s pulled back into a mess when politician Lawrence Beaumont’s (Forest Whitaker) son, Charlie (Justin Cornwell), and his pals find themselves accused of murdering a powerful drug dealer and his gang. Of course, Charlie didn’t do it, but these types of films lack people who prefer to talk with words rather than fists and guns. So, it’s up to Walker to find Charlie and bring him back to Lawrence.

Gareth Evans paints Havoc as a redemption arc for Walker, who wants to atone for his past mistakes as a dirty cop, but Evans’ script stumbles into cliche after cliche, with even the dialogue and characterizations feeling pulled from other action thrillers. One wonders if there’s a singular book about cops that every screenwriter reads, because these characters all talk and act the same. Miserable wretches, really. Even the dynamic between Walker and his partner, Ellie (Jessie Mei Li), could be pulled from a buddy movie where they lack trust at first but prove their worth to each other in the end.

All hail the glorious violence

Let’s be real, though: no one watches something like Havoc and hopes for an Aaron Sorkin-penned script. Gareth Evans leaves nothing on the table, nor any road untraveled, in the action. He might not throw the kitchen sink at it, but he does chuck a washing machine. For real. An actual washing machine plays a part in a memorable chase sequence, so it’s safe to say I have seen it all now. 

Those familiar with The Raid know that Evans’ action scenes revolve around motion, as he loves to pan and focus on singular shots that show off the gore and glory without too many cuts. Havoc‘s combat isn’t as fluid as The Raid‘s, but it makes sense in the context of the characters’ backgrounds. Sure, Evans includes a few martial artists to spice up the melees, but most of the characters are either scrappy brawlers or well versed in basic military combat. This turns the fights into feisty affairs that see characters grabbing for anything they can to survive. Gunplay also features heavily, as bullet holes pierce people and settings like everyone’s cosplaying Swiss cheese.

Simply put, Evans refuses to hold back in the carnage department. From blood spills to brutal kills, nothing is off the table or too outrageous to consider. By the time the credits roll, I feel like I need a bath to wash off all the sweat from witnessing this ever-escalating killcount.

‘Havoc’ is exactly what it promised it would be

Performance-wise, this is Tom Hardy’s movie. Everything centers around Walker, with Hardy pivotal to all the biggest scenes and moments. However, it would be remiss to not mention Jessie Mei Li and Timothy Olyphant. Those who watched Shadow and Bone will know about Li’s talent, but the actor plays a different kind of role as Ellie here. Ellie weaves in and out of the story, but she leaves her mark by the end, receiving the opportunity to demonstrate her badassery too. In Olyphant’s case, his role as Vincent shows off his ability to play morally complex but ruthless characters. If casting directors read this, please do the world a favor and cast Olyphant in more villainous roles.

Thinking back to the first Havoc trailer, it’s indisputable that this movie fulfills its end of the bargain. Ultimately, it promised bloodshed, brawls, and battles, and that’s exactly what Gareth Evans pumps out here. There’s nothing PG or sanitized about this movie, so buckle up for bone-crushing action and vivid violence that fits right into Evans’ furious filmography. 

Watch Havoc on Netflix.