Havoc is an underwhelming action-thriller from director/screenwriter Gareth Evans. Walker (Tom Hardy) is a down-on-his-luck detective who is estranged from his wife (Narges Rashidi) and daughter (Astrid Fox-Sahan). Mayor Beaumont (Forest Whitaker) needs his help after his son, Charlie (Justin Cornwell), is caught up in a drug deal with the Triad. The drug deal goes wrong after Tsui (Jeremy Ang Jones), the new leader, is killed by an unknown assassin. Charlie is a suspect in the crime, and a gang war has erupted.
In the meantime, Tsui’s Mother (Yeo Yann Yann) has come to the states to avenge his death. Charlie and his girlfriend, Mia (Quelin Sepulveda), are on the run and have plans to flee the country. Walker and his partner, Ellie (Jessie Mei Lei), must go through the criminal underworld of this corrupt city to find Charlie. Little does he realize the police force has connections to the Triad.
HAVOC. Michelle Waterson as Assassin in HAVOC. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
“Walker and his partner, Ellie, must go through the criminal underworld of this corrupt city to find Charlie.”
For an action film, Havoc feels aimless and lacks suspense. The action scenes choreographed by Jude Poyer were a mixed bag. Poyer’s best set pieces were the opening car chase and the capture of Mayor Beaumont. However, the rest was a barrage of endless gunfights and blood gushing everywhere. Evans’ screenplay lacked character, and tying it to Christmas added nothing to the plot. This flick has none of the heart and emotional investment of John McTiernan’s Die Hard. I wanted to root for Walker, but there was nothing of substance to make me care about him.
The film does succeed in its seamless editing by Sara Jones and Matt Platts-Mills. It works in the film’s favor as we travel to various locations around this unnamed city. Jones and Platts-Mills’ editing flows perfectly with the smooth tracking shots. Tom Pearce’s gritty production design and Matt Flannery’s neo-noir cinematography are the film’s best components. All these aesthetic elements are blended with the on-location shooting in Wales. Also, Forest Whitaker is wonderful as Mayor Beaumont; he provides some extra life for the film.
Netflix and Ted Sarandos, please develop some high-concept action films. I had more fun watching The Fall Guy last year than the nothing-burger that is Havoc.
"…has none of the heart and emotional investment of John McTiernan’s Die Hard."
