'Havoc' review: Tom Hardy unleashes relentless ultra-violence in Netflix's high-octane crime thriller
Tom Hardy returns to the screen with ferocious intensity in Havoc, Netflix’s explosive new action thriller from acclaimed director Gareth Evans, best known for The Raid and The Raid 2. This film marks a visceral return to the director’s brand of ultra-violent, stylistically choreographed chaos, anchored by Hardy’s brooding presence and an unrelenting momentum of destruction.
Tom Hardy in 'Havoc.'
Netflix
Evans wastes no time immersing viewers into the grim underworld of a nameless, crime-infested American metropolis. The cityscape is dark, suffocating, and perpetually drenched in night—a visual signature executed with dynamic flair by cinematographer Matt Flannery. Gritty urban textures are slashed with neon and blood as fists fly, bullets rain down, and the body count climbs with every passing scene.
Hardy plays Walker, a hardened homicide detective whose moral compass has long since shattered. Haunted by a past mistake and severed from personal ties, he operates with a simmering rage beneath his stoic facade. The role suits Hardy perfectly. He channels the raw physicality of Bronson, the wounded intensity of Mad Max: Fury Road, and the taciturn menace of The Dark Knight Rises into a performance that elevates the archetype of the broken cop.
The story kicks off with a high-speed truck chase involving a stolen shipment of washing machines concealing a massive cocaine payload. This single incident spirals into a wider web of narcotics, political corruption, and Triad warfare, setting the stage for a labyrinthine series of confrontations. It’s a powder keg of motives and alliances, each spark igniting spectacular violence.
Walker’s personal stake emerges as he tracks down Charlie, son of mayoral candidate and shady real estate magnate Lawrence Beaumont (played with smooth duplicity by Forest Whitaker). Charlie and his girlfriend Mia, portrayed by Justin Cornwell and Quelin Sepulveda, are on the run from every side of the criminal divide. The plot unfolds through Walker’s pursuit, investigations, and brutal interrogations—punctuated by escalating waves of carnage.
Evans maintains his reputation for masterfully orchestrated action sequences. The standout moment, a hyperkinetic nightclub shootout, unfolds with thumping techno beats as Walker cuts through henchmen in an unbroken ballet of violence. Echoes of John Wick and Hard Boiled resound in the scene’s rhythm, precision, and raw spectacle.
Action fans will find equal thrill in the relentless siege that closes the film. A remote lakeside cabin becomes ground zero for a last stand between corrupt police, Triad assassins, and our weary hero. It’s an all-out brawl layered with gunfire, martial arts, and brutal improvisation. Hardy doesn’t just survive these scenes—he owns them, wielding everything from fists to hooks to household appliances as weapons of destruction.
Supporting performances enhance the film’s pulse. Jesse Mei Li plays Ellie, Walker’s rookie partner, whose initial sidelining by her jaded colleague shifts as her resilience and tactical instincts emerge. Michelle Waterson, a real-life MMA fighter, makes a fearsome impression as a silent, deadly enforcer. Yeo Yann Yann, nearly unrecognizable, commands the screen as Clarice, a ruthless Triad matriarch with vengeance on her mind.
Though the film’s plot threads don’t always interlock smoothly, the storytelling prioritizes energy and impact over exposition. Dialogue is spare and functional, functioning primarily as a bridge to the next burst of explosive action. Yet the film’s central themes of guilt, survival, and moral erosion are delivered with conviction.
Fans of The Raid will recognize Gareth Evans’ signature touches throughout—crushing fight choreography, high-velocity camera work, and a visceral commitment to violence as visual art. Composer Aria Prayogi’s ominous score—laced with synth dread and rhythmic percussion—intensifies the mounting tension, adding a layer of atmosphere that complements the raw physicality onscreen.
Netflix has positioned Havoc as a key summer action release, and the film does not disappoint. With Hardy’s magnetic intensity at the center, Evans crafts a nightmarish journey through the criminal underbelly that rarely pauses for breath. Every confrontation feels earned, every explosion of violence purposeful, and every frame charged with menace.
This is not a film for the faint of heart. It is loud, merciless, and unapologetically brutal. But for viewers who relish adrenaline-fueled cinema with a grim, operatic edge, Havoc delivers a high-voltage experience that earns its place among the genre’s modern standouts.
Netflix’s gamble on another gritty Gareth Evans vision has paid off—Havoc is an electrifying, blood-soaked bullet train of a movie with no brakes.
