First reactions land for Tom Hardy’s “relentlessly brutal” new Netflix action thriller

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The first reactions have landed for Tom Hardy’s new Netflix action thriller Havoc.

In the film “Gareth Evans” (known as “Gangs of London”), the actor from “Venom” takes on the role of a weary detective. This character is tasked with rescuing the son of a politician following a failed drug deal, while also exposing corruption and unraveling complex conspiracies.

After the movie’s debut in London last evening, initial reviews from critics have come to light – and they’ve predominantly been favorable, with a focus on the thrilling action sequences.

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Gareth Evans returns to demonstrate high-octane action in the brutally violent movie “Havoc,” which will be available on Netflix starting next Friday, according to Digital Spy’s Ian Sandwell.

I can’t get enough of one specific dance routine I keep watching again and again, absolutely amazed by its technical boldness. It’s simply fantastic entertainment.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: “I’m back to movie making with a vengeance, that’s what Mitchell Beaupre from Letterboxd mentioned on Bluesky. He described ‘Havoc’ as a relentlessly brutal neo-noir, packed with two of the most jaw-dropping action sequences of this decade.

This will make your throat constrict and then swiftly remove the feeling. Tom Hardy is performing exceptionally well. Timothy Olyphant remains as smooth as silk. It’s a real crowd-pleaser.

Barrington Hertz from The Globe and Mail opined that the four years spent to reach Netflix were well worth it. In his words on X, “This series is packed with intense action scenes that border on brutal, legendary, chaotic. Although it lacks the Mad Dog intensity found in THE RAID 2, when it delivers, it does so powerfully.

Critic Zachary Lee commented: “Gareth Evans and Tom Hardy demonstrate that screen portrayals of death have barely scratched the surface. This filmmaking is powerfully muscular, presenting an unrelenting bleakness but offering a twisted sense of release as it builds to its peak in brutality. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed such a thrilling nightclub brawl.

In addition to Hardy, the impressive cast of “Havoc” also features Olyphant, Jessie Mei Li, Forest Whitaker, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Luis Guzmán, Michelle Waterson, Sunny Pang, Jim Caesar, Xelia Mendes-Jones, and Yeo Yann Yann.

In the past, I, myself, referred to this movie as my heartfelt tribute to the heroic bloodshed genre – those incredible action films that emerged from Hong Kong during the ’80s and ’90s.

Havoc is released on Netflix on April 25.

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2025-04-16 12:54