Netflix hasn’t exactly had the greatest track record with their original titles, with The Electric State (2025), one of the most expensive films ever made, recently carrying universal disdain. It’s incredibly hard to believe CEO Ted Sarandos said that the streaming giant is “saving Hollywood.” Many Netflix Originals come and go with little acclaim or resonating impact, but that may have changed with Gareth Evans’ new unhinged action film, Havoc (2025).
Following a dirty cop (Tom Hardy) who gets tangled in a Triad-run criminal underworld, Havoc embraces its title, providing a breath of fresh air for Netflix after a series of misses that have seemed to sour its image to the public.
Havoc’s first immediate strength is the characterization of its city. This fictional concrete jungle echoes Gotham as depicted in The Batman (2022), a dark industrial hell with danger lurking at any time of day and around any corner. The set design is gorgeous, employing multicolored signs and a layer of grime that adds a demented sense of life to the metropolis Walker (Hardy) navigates throughout the film. This is not limited to the exteriors, with the interior sets being just as lived-in and delightfully disgusting. While some of the outdoor shots are heavily enhanced with CGI, they serve as a stylistic choice rather than one of convenience.
Despite the impeccable world-building and set design of the city, the film’s actual plot and writing leave much to be desired. Considering the main selling point was Evans’ direction and approach to action filmmaking, it was not unexpected that the writing would be on the thin side. I found Walker being a corrupt cop to be a compelling idea at first, but it feels less like a significant character trait and more like a draw from a hat of law enforcement occupations. Ironically, it reminds me of Hardy’s role in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), as the titular character is thrown into a scuffle by association rather than having any meaningful connection to it. While this is the driving force of Fury Road, in Havoc, it feels lazy.
While the writing is skin-and-bones, the cast does a great job with the material they are given and provides strong performances all around. Hardy is believable as the disillusioned Walker despite essentially using the same accent he does for Eddie Brock in the Venom films. I was elated to see Jessie Mei Li in a significant role, playing Walker’s partner Ellie, and they have great chemistry together. Ellie’s determination is juxtaposed with Walker’s carelessness. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Timothy Olyphant as a supporting character, opposing Hardy as tensions rise during the story.
The defining feature and easily the best aspect of Havoc is the commitment to impressive action filmmaking on display. Having little experience with Gareth Evans past the universal praise for his Raid films, I was delighted to see firsthand just how insane he could be in terms of directing and action cinematography. This film is oozing with style and prowess and would have been incredible to witness on a big screen. My jaw dropped at the technical risks the film takes in its camerawork, and I often wondered if the cameraman himself was a stuntman. The atmosphere is filled with kinetic energy as police cruisers race down the streets and shots are fired wildly. If there is one reason to take a chance on this film, it is because of the bold risks it takes as a Netflix Original.
It is a shame that Havoc was released straight to streaming, because this is a film that would make serious money in theaters. Evans has captured the attention of cinephiles everywhere with his Raid films, and this is yet another stellar notch in his belt. Despite the barely-there writing, the film is a technical marvel with a lively setting that justifies witnessing the chaos of it all.
Review Courtesy of Nadia Arain
Feature Image Credit to Netflix via IMDb