Movies
[Review] ‘Hardcore Henry’ Is Filled to the Brim With “Holy Sh*t” Moments!
John McClane, Ellen Ripley, Jason Bourne, James Bond.
Many of us have dreamed of what it would be like to be in their shoes.
Hardcore Henry is the first ever feature film to put the viewer directly in the shoes of the hero. Coming on the tail end of the found-footage explosion, it’s either a concept that’s too little, too late… or it’s way ahead of its time.
Ilya Naishuller breaks new ground with Hardcore Henry, his POV action film that just premiered at the Midnight Madness portion of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Beginning much like a POV-style video game, our hero, Henry (that’s you!), wakes up to have his robotic arm and leg attached, only to be interrupted before his voice module can be activated. The film announces itself within 5 minutes and tells the audience that Hardcore Henry can and will go anywhere it wants.
Naishuller introduces a colorful antagonist, Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), a telekinetic who uses psychic powers to throw people around in a room. The audience immediately gasps, and continues to have their collective minds blown as they learn this base is floating in the sky, and have to drop out of an escape pod straight to Earth. It’s the most visceral and intense experience I’ve had in quite some time.
After a harrowing escape, Henry has a run-in with Jimmy* (Sharlto Copley; pictured), who acts as the film’s device to move the character from set piece to set piece.
What’s even more intriguing about the film is that there’s no real race against time, as you would expect, and instead loads the audience’s shoulders with questions that keep it engaging throughout.
As a concept, it’s a bit gimmicky, but the mysterious plot and vibrant characterizations of both Jimmy and Akan keep you mentally checked in just long enough for the next “holy shit” moment.
With that said, here’s how Hardcore Henry is ahead of its time: it’s better off suited as a virtual reality movie. Technology isn’t quite there yet, but those who are into VR understand that it’s the future – and Hardcore Henry is the future of filmmaking. It’s groundbreaking stuff that just touches on what’s to come in cinema.
Outside of the concept, Naishuller keeps the action fresh by mixing up the weapons and scenery, and even pulls the rug out from the audience with an incredible dance number (yup) by Copley*.
And for a movie called Hardcore Henry, it delivers on its promise. Naishuller blasts the audience with one of the most bloody and violent movies in the history of cinema, but manages to keep it fun (even when heads are being ripped apart). The only major issue is that some of the action is hard to see, which happens even in the Bourne films (at least Naishuller has an excuse).
Hardcore Henry is both the past and future of filmmaking, and isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea**. Still, it’s filled to the brim with “holy shit” moments, and if that weren’t enough, Copley’s performance is so good that you won’t be able to stop talking about it. My only hope is that a major studio picks up the remake rights, and pops Naishuller into the world of VR to create the ultimate action experience. Frankly, Hardcore could just have easily been titled Beyond Hardcore…
*There’s a pretty dense story behind Jimmy and I don’t want to ruin it for you. I feel like the mystery behind his character helps with engagement.
**Those with motion sickness BEWARE.
Movies
’28 Years Later’ – Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson Join Long Awaited Sequel
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland (Annihilation, Men), the director and writer behind 2002’s hit horror film 28 Days Later, are reteaming for the long-awaited sequel, 28 Years Later. THR reports that the sequel has cast Jodie Comer (Alone in the Dark, “Killing Eve”), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven the Hunter), and Ralph Fiennes (The Menu).
The plan is for Garland to write 28 Years Later and Boyle to direct, with Garland also planning on writing at least one more sequel to the franchise – director Nia DaCosta is currently in talks to helm the second installment.
No word on plot details as of this time, or who Comer, Taylor-Johnson, and Fiennes may play.
28 Days Later received a follow up in 2007 with 28 Weeks Later, which was executive produced by Boyle and Garland but directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Now, the pair hope to launch a new trilogy with 28 Years Later. The plan is for Garland to write all three entries, with Boyle helming the first installment.
Boyle and Garland will also produce alongside original producer Andrew Macdonald and Peter Rice, the former head of Fox Searchlight Pictures, the division of one-time studio Twentieth Century Fox that originally backed the British-made movie and its sequel.
The original film starred Cillian Murphy “as a man who wakes up from a coma after a bicycle accident to find England now a desolate, post-apocalyptic collapse, thanks to a virus that turned its victims into raging killers. The man then navigates the landscape, meeting a survivor played by Naomie Harris and a maniacal army major, played by Christopher Eccleston.”
Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) is on board as executive producer, though the actor isn’t set to appear in the film…yet.
Talks of a third installment in the franchise have been coming and going for the last several years now – at one point, it was going to be titled 28 Months Later – but it looks like this one is finally getting off the ground here in 2024 thanks to this casting news. Stay tuned for more updates soon!
Five Underseen Vampire Horror Movies to Stream This Week
Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ Is Now Available to Watch at Home!
Looking for New Episodes of “Chucky” on Peacock? Here’s What Changed
‘The Blair Witch Project’ – Original Stars Release a Statement Asking Lionsgate for Residuals & Recognition
‘Mountain Man’ – Joe Manganiello Will Battle Zombies in Upcoming Horror Movie
You must be logged in to post a comment.