Mindless mayhem
Those who deem ‘Die Hard’ to be a Christmas film have another contender, even if a broke one, in ‘Havoc’. The scene opens on Christmas night — a tainted cop is trying to get out of the grey. He gets a present for his daughter, who stays with his estranged partner. But life has other plans. A drug deal gone wrong drags not just him, but mafia from across the world in a fight that takes over the Christmas spirit.
Walker (Tom Hardy) is a homicide cop, who is doing dirty statesman Lawrence Beaumont’s (Forest Whitaker) bidding to save his son Charlie (Justin Cornwell). Beaumont’s rebel kid has become the target of a drug lord by being present at the wrong place at the wrong time. In a city that has entered total chaos with cops shaking hands with the underworld, Walker is surrounded by danger from all sides. Not knowing friend from foe, he gets on a high-speed chase sequence that leaves one bewildered.
Gareth Evans has built a reputation on films that essay pacy action, as in ‘The Raid’ and ‘The Raid 2’. Here, he delivers another thriller with sterling action sequences. The story that’s built on an estranged couple, overindulgent parental love and morally heinous folks develops very little. Mindless mayhem is the name of the game.
The film opens with a high chase action sequence between a truck and a cop car on a conveniently deserted freeway. Four youth pegged against the city’s best cops win round one, only to land into larger trouble.
The film wins on diversity, for sure. Both the mafia and the cop world is ruled by women — one Asian, another of colour, and in that order. In between is an interracial love story, both opposed and supported by good and bad men and women of all kinds!
The biggest high of the film is its super-stylised action — chases, gunfights, close-quarter combats to amazingly choreographed high-flying stunts. One of the longest fight sequences takes place in a club and leaves you gasping for air as blood and gore take the forefront. Camera work and lighting build an atmosphere which one can barely keep up with, but feel it in the bones. Aria Prayogi’s gritty music score embellishes it well.
Tom Hardy scores in ‘Havoc’ as a killing machine with a good intent. Jessie Mei Li, as the rookie cop on Walker’s side, portrays strength and vulnerability. The feted Forest Whitaker does okay even in a brief role; Yeo Yann Yann makes a dashing appearance. Those who stand out in the ensemble cast include Luis Guzman, Timothy Olyphant and Richard Pepper.
In Evans’ dystopian world, guns can pump a thousand bullets, blood can ooze in a million myriad ways and bodies can jump and fly in all directions. If violent action is your genre, ‘Havoc’ is for you!
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