Gareth Evans returns to his signature kinetic style in the action thriller Havoc

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released on Netflix in April 2025, Havoc follows a detective navigating a web of corruption and Triad warfare. Directed by Gareth Evans, the film blends high-stakes crime drama with the director's trademark balletic action, marking a significant production effort that was filmed primarily on location in Wales.

The narrative centers on Patrick Walker, a homicide detective entangled with a real estate tycoon named Lawrence Beaumont. The plot ignites when a group of thieves, including Lawrence's son Charlie, inadvertently steal a shipment of cocaine hidden within washing machines. This discovery triggers a violent chain reaction involving corrupt narcotics officers and a fractured Triad organization.

The film's production was a massive undertaking, beginning in July 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. It stands as one of the largest film projects ever produced in the region, utilizing various Welsh locations to stand in for an unnamed, composite American city. While principal photography wrapped in October 2021, the project faced significant delays, with necessary reshoots pushed back until July 2024 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike and scheduling conflicts.

Critical reception has been mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 64% approval rating from 110 critics and Metacritic assigning a score of 57 out of 100. Reviewers often note that while the film may feel like a retread of Evans' previous work, its high-octane action sequences remain a primary draw. Despite the critical divide, the film found immediate traction with audiences, ranking as the second most-watched title on Netflix in the United States during its debut week.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Tom Hardy, alongside Forest Whitaker, Timothy Olyphant, and Jessie Mei Li. Gareth Evans wrote and directed the project under an exclusive deal with Netflix, with additional literary contributions from Scott Frank and John Lee Hancock. The final product serves as a testament to the logistical challenges of modern international co-productions, balancing complex stunt choreography with a sprawling crime narrative.

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