The action film The Furious, directed by Kenji Tanigaki and starring Joe Taslim, has received an early streaming release, arriving on demand just weeks after its theatrical debut on June 12. The movie, which briefly held a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and currently sits at 98% based on 141 reviews, has been widely praised for its inventive and visceral action sequences.
Film critics have described the choreography as "balletic," "chaotic," and "a veritable gift from the genre gods." Matt Zoller Seitz likened it to "Looney Tunes in a slaughterhouse," while Variety's Guy Lodge called it a "flamboyantly violent and brashly enjoyable affair." The film has earned a perfect score from Polygon, which lauded its relentless barrage of action and bold set pieces.
The Furious centers on Navin (Joe Taslim), a journalist searching for his wife Matia (Jeeja Yanin), who disappeared while investigating child kidnappings. Navin takes up her investigation, confronting numerous adversaries. Xie Miao portrays Wang Wei, a mute handyman whose own daughter is kidnapped, providing a narrative justification for his reliance on martial arts to find her. The film also features Indonesian action star Yayan Ruhian, known for his roles in The Raid franchise.
Despite some criticism regarding a formulaic plot and straightforward character motivations, the film's action is its undeniable strength. Scenes include a man fighting from atop a tower built of knocked-out opponents in an underground nightclub, another character attacking truck drivers while wearing flip-flops, and a fight sequence set in an industrial freezer that has been compared to Mortal Kombat. The film's climax features a protracted final battle that has left viewers and critics alike in awe of its execution.
One of the film's standout moments involves a character wielding a hammer to construct a tower from defeated opponents within an MMA octagon. The narrative prioritizes its action set pieces, largely sidelining dialogue and traditional character development in favor of kinetic spectacle. The film's depiction of action, from hand-to-hand combat to inventive uses of props like bicycles in fight scenes, has been highlighted as exceptionally creative.
The overwhelming consensus is that The Furious delivers an unparalleled action experience, cementing its place as a must-watch for fans of the genre.