Havoc delivers chaos, violence and destruction. Gareth Evans, the director of The Raid, knows how to make an action scene feel immediate and painful. The trouble is that the film offers much less when nobody is being hit.
Tom Hardy plays Walker, a worn-down detective in a corrupt city. A failed drug deal sends events spiraling, and he has to rescue a powerful politician's son. It is a familiar damaged-cop setup, driven here by considerably more blood and broken bones.
The fights are the strongest element. Long takes, forceful choreography and inventive bursts of violence create the raw physical impact Evans does so well. The agile camera, dark lighting and strong images suit this relentless world.
Hardy brings presence through grunts, sweat and bruises, but Walker receives little depth or development. Jessie Mei Li gives young officer Ellie some heart, even if her role is predictable. Timothy Olyphant's Vincent is solid and underused. Forest Whitaker has little to do as the politician, while Luis Guzman's gangster falls back on cliché.
The screenplay largely exists to connect one confrontation to the next. Generic dialogue and thin characterization make emotional investment difficult. The adrenaline is there; the substance is harder to find.
For action fans, Havoc can be a feast. For viewers looking for a memorable story alongside the brutality, it may feel like a lot of noise with surprisingly little lasting impact. I admire the physical filmmaking much more than the characters it serves.