‘Havoc’ Movie Review

Each gunshot a poetic moment with every hit having blood splatter spraying across the screen in a slow motion we are greeted with tragedy one kill at a time. Tom Hardy's newest film, Havoc, is now playing on Netflix. Get ready for action and gun violence!

The movie, Havoc, is a typical plot movie with dirty cops, some trying to make amends while others get involved with gangsters, and those caught in the crossfire trying to make a life for themselves through committing crimes of their own. I was not too invested in the show itself, but when the plot unraveled a bit, I realized it was a cop movie I've seen many times before.

However, there are aspects of the show that make up for the lackluster plot lines. With actors resurfacing and a gothic aesthetic this movie is a good watch when you're in the mood for it.

While the plot is pretty typical for a dirty cop movie, the cinematography and the actors, including Tom Hardy, make up for where it lacks. We are also greeted with other actors we haven't seen for awhile. Forest Whitake, Timothy Olyphant, and Luis Guzman are among those we haven't seen on the big screen for a time or two. So thank goodness for this film because great actors need to be seen more often.

Jessie Mei Li is another actress that has been a little MIA in the film world. She was the leading lady in Shadow & Bone, which was unfortunately cancelled, but we haven't really seen her in anything major since. I have always though that actors/actresses who are on a big projecet and have a trajectory towards making it need to do indie movies to up their acting chops to gain more experience and become better on the big screen. Some don't need to, but others definitely would benefit. I think that Havoc was a great place for Li to do this. She got some experience on a different kind of set and was able to observe other accomplished actors do their thing. So good for her.

Tom Hardy was our "main character" in this movie. I say that loosely just because their were many different perspectives within the movie and it mostly revolved around the violence. We meet him as he is confessing a crime to us, which we find out sooner what that is and now his current standing as a detective trying to solve a crime that he is involved with somehow. Because of this crime a domino effect of misunderstandings takes place and a lot of people become involved to take down the person they believe is the killer. Dirty cops, corrupt politicians, a triad gang selling drugs, and a group of dumb young adults who committed a crime are now all involved together in the sea of misunderstandings.

Besides the basic plot, the cinematography is where this show shines. Or so I believe. Watching the show I felt like I was in Gotham City waiting for Batman to drop from the skies and catch a criminal. I was not met with Batman or the black military Batmobile, but an antihero, who we were rooting for because he was trying to make amends of his past. The visual aesthetic of the film really reminded me of the Christian Bale Batman movies. It was a gothic aesthetic with a touch of noir when the shots were covering the streets. It was dark, gritty and when the blood hit the screen, it brightened it up with every shot showing the blood coming out of each victim and the powerful light emanating from the gun.

Overall I give the movie a 6.5/10. While the cinematography was beautiful, the plot was just to unoriginal. I would definitely say if you are in for violence, action, police corruption, and fugitives on the run this is the movie to watch for all those wantings.