STX/H.Bros.
2016 Color
90 Mins.
Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller
Sharlto Copley, Danila Kozlovsky, Haley Bennett and Tim Roth star.
Written by Ilya Naishuller and Will Stewart
Directed by Ilya Naishuller
Rated R for language, violence, gore, nudity and drug use.
I went into this film with the lowest of expectations. Despite a multitude of positive buzz the trailer left me feeling like the film would be gimmicky and loose it's luster after the first ten minutes. Well I'm happy to say that I enjoyed the hell out of Hardcore Henry. The film is a completely immersive first person experience. Similar to playing the most bad ass video game ever. The story is light but surprisingly involved. It centers around Henry who awakens to his wife and discovers he's been reborn with a whole bunch of strong robotic parts. He has no memory or voice and immediately finds himself on the run. He quickly learns to fight and runs into an array of charismatic one note characters who quickly ends up being dispatched in gory fashions. As he moves from one breath taking spectacle to the next he discovers clues along with new missions/destinations he must get to if he wants to survive and save his wife. It all culminates with an awe inspiring, goregasmic showdown of epic proportions. Watching the film is similar to playing a video game as you the audience are Henry. Like a video game some characters and story lines are rushed through but the experience is incredibly immersive to an almost unbearable point. The acting is fittingly hammy and the first person execution from Ilya Naishuller is inspired. Now let's talk about the gore of which there is a spectacular amount. Not since Dead Alive has there been such a display of goretastic goodies which range from severed heads, hands being torn apart, hearts being torn out, faces being dragged against buildings, gouged eyeballs being used as weapons and lots and lots of meaty blood and so much more that I don't want to ruin. Not all of Hardcore Henry is perfect, the film suffers from having a too cheesy, over the top Luc Bessonish villain who has cool but overly ridiculous telekinetic powers and the female lead Haley Bennett, so good in "Kristy" leaves much too be desired here. Also the story feels like it should culminate to just a bit more but regardless there has never been a film like this and it is one hell of an awesome fucking experience. As a cohesive movie it may not hold up but as a wild fucking experience it pushes the bar for movie going up to an exponential level of cinematic craziness.
****/5
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