Havoc – Movie Review | Netflix (2/5)

HAVOC on Netflix is a new Action Thriller of the wildest kind. It comes from filmmaker Gareth Evans of The Raid. If you know that movie, you have an idea of what to expect: A lot of action, not quite as much plot. Read our full Havoc movie review here and watch it on Netflix!

HAVOC is a new Netflix action thriller. Described as a “High-Octane Action Thriller,” to be exact, which is an important detail, as the action scenes are wild. Of course, one wouldn’t expect any less from the writer and director of The Raid.

Still, I do think expecting more of a plot is allowed. I loved the casting of this movie, which probably also made me expect a little more from the story. With a runtime of around 1 hour and 45 minutes, there’s enough room for a plot that goes deeper than this. But hey, it’s still a fun watch.

Continue reading our Havoc movie review below. Find it on Netflix from April 25, 2025.

Brooding man as the good guy

Let me preface the following by saying that I have always liked Tom Hardy and continue to do so. I just feel like he could do so much better with a fully developed storyline rather than just a few stepping stones from one fight scene to the next.

Still, I am all for just a “fun” action movie as well. I just expected more.

So, let’s get into Havoc. The story is about the bruised detective, Walker (Tom Hardy), who fights his way through the criminal underworld. Walker is the classic (as in stereotypical) brooding man who is really the good guy.

He wants to be a good husband and father, but some bad choices led him astray. Yeah, I’m grossly oversimplifying, but so does the plot of Havoc. I will give it points for casting Narges Rashidi from Under the Shadow as Walker’s estranged wife.

I mean, Narges Rashidi has virtually no screentime or many lines, but… yeah.

A few tough women

Also, in classic Tom Hardy style, the story features several important female characters. I would credit the filmmaker as well, but that isn’t something he’s particularly known for, whereas Tom Hardy tends to love stories that also feature strong women.

For Havoc, two of the most intriguing characters (and toughest fighters in their own ways) are portrayed by Jessie Mei Li and Quelin Sepulveda.

As Walker finds himself having to take on a vengeful crime syndicate, a crooked politician, and some of his fellow cops, he needs all the help he can get. In other key roles, we see Timothy Olyphant, who does well, and Forest Whitaker, who, I’m sorry to say, was a disappointment.

Art imitating life?!

In Havoc, we see a lot of reckless behaviour from police officers. Sure, these are not the best guys, but Tom Hardy’s Walker is supposedly a good guy at heart, and even he goes quite crazy. He has his reasons, sure.

Still, by this definition, we all have a “reason” if trying to fix our own mistakes is valid.

We’re talking cops (all of them) shooting up buildings, firing guns across highways, extremely reckless driving, and shooting into houses with absolutely no idea who they might hit.

Of course, with the actual true stories of people being killed by police officers in similar situations, it doesn’t even feel that crazy. It should, but facts say that this could happen. Not as extreme as seen in this Netflix movie, but still.

And I acknowledge that Havoc is a work of fiction. It’s just a shame that corrupt law enforcement and people dying at the hands of cops are very real things in the real world. Yeah, it just did not sit right with me that several of these action sequences were that much around civilians.

Watch Havoc on Netflix

Havoc was written and directed by Gareth Evans (The Raid, Apostle), and while the movie delivers on being a “high-octane action thriller”, I expected more.

Maybe it’s just that I loved The Raid and felt it had a little something more. Not a much bigger story, but at least it didn’t take place in a crowded city and involve as many innocent bystanders. Also, with Tom Hardy and Timothy Olyphant in key roles, we could’ve gone deeper.

Overall, this Netflix movie just wasn’t very fulfilling in the story department, which was a disappointment. I didn’t expect the most profound storyline, but I was hoping for more than it offers. Watch it for the amazing action and fight scenes, and you’ll be happy.

Havoc is out on Netflix globally from April 25, 2025.

Details

Director: Gareth Evans
Writer: Gareth Evans 
Cast: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Luis Guzmán, Michelle Waterson, Sunny Pang, Jim Caesar, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Yeo Yann Yann, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker