Director: Ilya Naishuller.
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Haley Bennett, Tim Roth, Danila Kozlovsky, Andrei Dementiev, Svetlana Ustinova, Darya Charusha, Oleg Poddubnyy, Cyrus Arnold.
For me, this all started with this music video that went viral a few years ago which some of you might remember.
You'll learn that the director of this music video is also the bands lead singer, Ilya Naishuller who went go to make this riot mess masterpiece. Then, I forgot all about it until UFC196, where they were showcasing the trailers for Hardcore Henry and I jumped up off the sofa now being fully dosed up on excitement, finding the videos on YouTube and tweeting, congratulating Ilya Naishuller himself. Now before I continue I just need to mention a few words. Crazy! Chaotic mayhem! Anarchy! Havoc! Pandemonium! Yes! Like all the best roller coasters, Hardcore Henry should come with a health warning. Should you suffer from motion sickness and/or have a fear of heights and other scary situations. Have heart, back or neck problems or serious heart conditions; you have been warned. It's six million ways to die and get your arse majorly kicked to the kerb out of a window or moving vehicle. Yes, this fIrst person shooter isn't the first, taking Doom (2005) as an example but you have not seen anything like this. The entire film is in first person perspective and is captured so amazing well, including crazy car chases, running, gun shooting fun, fire, explosions, boobs and vicious punch ups. It's like a day in the life, all through the eyes of Jet Li, John Wick, John McClane and Bourne rolled into one; all crammed into an impossible, action-packed 96mins. The stunt team, that could rival Jackie Chan's, are incredible; pulling off death defying shots and the explosive van chases! It's so real looking you might actually think the special effects are pants but of course, they're amazing. I can imagine Director and team sitting there designing this epic thinking, where can we go with this, what can we not do and then try and do it. It's a live shoot 'em up arcade game with unforgettable sequences that John Woo could only dream he thought of first. Notably the van chases with the bikes, the sniper shots are epic and the best use of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' during an adrenaline-fuelled fight scene involving our hero Vs 20+ henchmen. Apart from the bullets and boobs (I've mentioned boobs already haven't I?) grenades and fire; the film has vast amounts of blood, gore, flaying limbs, some MacGyver style surgery and the occasional eye socket. There's plenty of those "Oooooouuu" moments, like when you see your friend accidentally crush his nutsack on a handrail. It's all out carnage. Oh, and the rest of the movie! Sharlto Copley is awesome as the multiple-dying comrade and Haley Bennett is stunning, she's like an even, dare I say it, hotter version of Jennifer Lawrence and I love the JLaw. Danila Kozlovsky makes an interesting Magneto-kind villain. The soundtrack and score is superb with Biting Elbows providing the great end credit track "For The Kill" check it out! I have read some reviews comparing this to Tarantino, claiming Quentin has to watch out. Don't do that, don't watch expecting a QT style film. It's unique and original and Tarantino is more about story and script than this epic actioner. Yes, it has Tim Roth but that doesn't make it the next Tarantino movie. This deserves its own merit, it's like nothing else you've seen before, I assure you. It's an ultimate example of what can be achieved with loads of fun GoPros and some crowdfunding but not forgetting the main ingredient of amazing talent and epic vision from Ilya Naishuller. Well done that man! And to the rest of the team. Every action film should have a Henry moment or it didn't happen.
Running Time: 9
The Cast: 9
Performance: 9
Direction: 10
Story: 7
Script: 7
Creativity: 10
Soundtrack: 9
Job Description: 10
The Extra Bonus Point: 10 for being totally outrageously original and bringing fun back into action in such an unique way.
90% 9/10
