The Furious (2026)

I don’t think I need to mention (again) how much I love action flicks. I feel like if I do, I’ll probably just annoy you more than I would about my own sensory needs. Either way, I enjoy them and I think it’s safe to say that I got the full-blown experience when I went to see The Furious. I was actually struggling with what I should say about this film. Hell, I’m still not entirely sure how to put this one together. But I can absolutely guarantee that this was definitely the best action flick I’ve seen in a long time. It was a pedal-to-the-metal, no-holds-barred, incredibly gruesome thrill ride from beginning to end and it barely let up. I remember when I watched the trailer and one of the reviews said “The best brawler since The Raid films” and after watching this, that’s quite the understatement. As someone who loves The Raid films, it gave me everything that made them awesome and then some. It was badass, brutal, and so much fun. And when a movie includes all those traits, then there’s really not much else I could want. I have more to say about this adrenaline-fueled and violent journey so, let’s jump into the energy and see what sticks.

     The story follows a desperate father (Mo Tse) who takes matters into his own hands after his daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal group. With the help of a journalist (Joe Taslim) searching for answers about his own missing wife, the two form an uneasy alliance in a race against time. One thing that impressed me about this film was the cast. In fact, it mostly includes highly accomplished martial artists, stunt performers, and action choreographers. It also helps that director Kenji Tanigaki is a legendary stuntman and action choreographer himself. I even loved how the movie included martial artist and actor Yayan Ruhian. Again, I’m a fan of The Raid films so it was cool to see both him and Joe Taslim on the screen again. I think the only thing that felt a little weird to me was that it had some clunky English dubbing that my detail-oriented mindset couldn’t help but notice. However, I did learn that they did this because the film features a massive international cast representing different languages and to create a cohesive global release without forcing one localized language, the production decided to use English as the universal baseline. Knowing that now, that makes it easier for me to look past this and not think of it as a negative. Another thing that stood out to me in this film were the surprises. I’m obviously not going to spoil anything but the film offers plenty of surprises that shocked both me and the audience that I watched the film with. If you think you’ll just be watching a movie with a typical kidnapping plot, you’ll be getting a harsh reality check. As much as I’d love to keep rambling on about this film, I think it should undeniably be seen first.

     There’s so much about this movie that any fan of action will adore and it just gets better and better. Sure, it’s more chaotic than a sensory-heavy environment but that’s what I loved about it. Having said that, I would have to give this movie a solid 10 out of 10. If you’re into martial arts, action, or if you don’t mind a round of violence every now and again, then definitely go check this film out. A film that truly lives up to its name in every conceivable way.