Havoc is an action thriller written and directed by Gareth Evans. The film stars Tom Hardy and Jessie Mei Li, alongside a strong supporting cast. It was released on Netflix on April 25, 2025.
The film follows a gang of thieves who unwittingly steal a shipment of washing machines concealing a hidden stash of cocaine. After a drug deal goes wrong, they find themselves hunted by corrupt narcotics detectives, a ruthless crime syndicate seeking revenge for the murder of their leader’s son, and a crooked politician with secrets to hide. Amid the chaos, Walker (Tom Hardy) is assigned to locate the politician’s missing son, uncovering a web of conspiracy in the process.
This film felt like a wasted production effort. The cinematography was a mess, camera work and shot composition were inconsistent, making scenes hard to follow. The CGI was equally underwhelming and, at times, distracting. On top of that, the story, theme, and plot were dull and lacked any real complexity or depth, just like the underdeveloped characters. The narrative was confusing, and the chaotic action sequences suffered from shaky, disorienting camera movements that made it even harder to stay engaged.
Furthermore, I couldn’t understand why the cops were such terrible shots, constantly firing rounds with little precision, which came off as almost cartoonish. Tom Hardy’s character lacked depth and felt similar to his performance in Venom (which, to be honest, wasn’t great either). The story was predictable and, frankly, quite boring. This film felt more like a poorly executed video game adaptation, unrefined, incoherent, and devoid of any real atmosphere or tension.
Overall, the only redeeming quality of this film was its fast-paced action sequences, though even those were plagued by choppy editing, poor lighting, and subpar CGI. Ultimately, the film falls short in every area, it lacks substance, fails to build any real tension, and features irrelevant characters and disjointed subplots that make it difficult to follow. It’s disappointing, especially considering the potential it had. With filming completed in 2021, the four years since then represent a missed opportunity to turn it into something truly great.
