'The Furious' Review
- Dempsey Pillot
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Release Date: 06/12/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Action. Crime. Thriller.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: Lionsgate.
The Verdict: A Must-See
In any other film, a man trapped in a cage, and outnumbered with several muscular henchmen would spell certain doom. But in Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious, it’s the spark to one of many memorable fight setpieces that elevate the action genre - all while putting a whole new meaning to the phrase “hammer time.”
Set “somewhere in Southeast Asia,” the film follows a mute handyman named Wang Wei whose daughter is kidnapped. When local authorities refuse to help, he teams up with the husband of a reporter (who has also gone missing) to track down the criminals responsible. What starts as an investigation into a trafficking ring morphs into a series of melee battles and boss fights that make the Mortal Kombat world look like Weenie Hut Jr.
The action is notably elevated here because the two protagonists are no mere men. They’re experienced fighters. In the case of Wang Wei, there are hints that he lived a dangerous life before settling down (more on that later). In the case of the reporter’s husband, Navin, in the film’s opening sequence it’s established that he and his wife used to train to fight together. While some of the damage they do throughout the film may seem unrealistic, it’s very well established that the anger they have over their loved ones being snatched away from them induces enough adrenaline to defy physics and attain justice. They are the furious.
Xie Miao is particularly incredible as Wang Wei. Not just because of how convincing he is as a father in pursuit of his daughter. But because of how unflinching he is in the face of danger. Now, his experience as a professional martial artist no doubt helps to sell his determination.
Despite his willingness to take multiple beatings, as previously mentioned, he still ends up feeling slightly underdeveloped. It’s not until the end of the film that we actually learn Wei’s name. Prior to that, because he’s a mute, all we learn about him is second-hand through his daughter. And even she has questions about her father’s life with her late mother.
While Joe Taslim’s Navin is a bit more fleshed out, and has just as concrete a motive, very little is revealed to the audience about him too. None of this is to say either character is hard to get attached to (or root for). After all, Liam Neeson’s character in Taken gave audiences an inkling about where he got his particular set of skills from, and that still didn’t quite tell us who he was. But it’s just weird that some of the film’s throwaway villains seem to have a little more dimension.
To be clear, the lack of each character’s development isn’t a major problem. For those curious about the almost superhuman abilities of our protagonists, however, them being “furious” isn’t always a sufficient answer. And the absence of context can sometimes create a small distraction to the film’s larger mysteries.
Admittedly, most people won’t be going into this film for character development. The marketing - and the concurrent word of mouth - focus on the heightened action because the action is the real star. So once you know the main set-up of the movie and our protagonists’ motivation, the film goes into mindnumbing autopilot, rarely delivering a dull moment. All at once, the film pays homage to Jackie Chan’s earliest films, Oldboy and even Taslim’s other, more notorious project The Raid. It even features a diabolical reunion (and rematch) between Taslim and fellow martial artist Yayan Ruhian!
It’s not that each action sequence is jaw-droppingly good, but each new one is somehow better than the last. Going back to the primary example, during the aforementioned cage sequence, when Wang Wei has his back against a literal wall and beats his way out, it’s impossible to think the film can outdo itself. Then it does. Again and again and again. Going back to the Mortal Kombat comparison, as the film goes on, each fight becomes longer, bloodier and more elaborate - sometimes to comedic proportions. For example, nothing wlll prepare you for the sequence that takes place at the base of a freezer company. And, without giving away too much, the film culminates in a climactic five-way battle so intimately choreographed it’s sexy. And there may be no better way to describe it than an action orgy.
Lack of character development aside, the film’s only true tangible issue might be its dubbing. It’s billed as an English-language thriller. While many characters do speak other languages throughout the film, each time someone speaks English it doesn’t look right - and it sounds off. Whether it may just be due to poor editing or bad ADR, it is jarring enough at times to take you out of the whole experience.
Nevertheless, even though we’re barely halfway through 2026, The Furious is hands-down the best action film of the year. What begins as a familiar revenge story evolves into a relentless adrenaline rush fueled by some of the best fighting sequences arguably ever. Whether you’re a fan of martial arts, you’ve enjoyed John Wick or any of its shameless carbon copies or just want to have a good time at the movies, this film is a must. You’ll have no one to be angry at but yourself if you miss it.
