furious
Starring: Zi Miao, Joe Taslim, Yang Nyu, Yan Ruhian, Brian Lay and Joey Iwanaga
Director: Kenji Tanigaki
Rating: ★★★
every generation gets something Action films that completely change the rules of the genre and remind audiences why they fell in love with it in the first place. These are movies that leave a lasting impression because they refuse to play it safe. We saw it in the electrifying energy of ’90s Hong Kong neo-noir, the unforgettable corridor action sequences in Park Chan Wook’s Oldboy, and the brutal intensity of The Raid, among others. The Furious takes his place with them comfortably. Directed by veteran stunt master Kenji Tanigaki, the film is a reminder that action cinema still has the power to evolve, surprise, and re-invent itself.
The plot of The Furious
Wang Wei (Xie Miao), a mute Chinese immigrant and skilled martial artist, lives a quiet life as a servant and single father to his young daughter, Renée (Yang Niu), in a crime-ridden Southeast Asian city. Her world is shattered when she is kidnapped by a child-trafficking syndicate, and she is sent on a violent mission to bring her home at any cost.
On the way, he meets Naveen (Joe Taslim), an investigative journalist who is pursuing the same criminal organization. But for Naveen this fight is very personal. He’s searching for answers about his wife Mattia (Thai action icon Jija Yanin), an intrepid reporter who disappeared after uncovering dangerous secrets about the syndicate. United by grief and a common enemy, the two men reluctantly join forces to bring down the empire that has destroyed their lives.
Directed by Kenji Tanigaki
Kenji Tanigaki understands that actions can often say more than pages of dialogue. He makes this clear from the start and rarely takes his foot off the accelerator thereafter. The screenplay, written by Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zilong, Shum Kwan Sin and Frank Hui, keeps things deliberately simple and puts the action at the center.
Set “somewhere in Southeast Asia” and shot on the bustling streets of Thailand, the film creates an intriguing multilingual world where characters move between Mandarin, Tagalog, and English. Tanigaki also understands how to use each location to his advantage, turning ordinary locations into inventive and memorable battlefields. The fight scenes are easy to follow, every hit makes an impact, and, most importantly, the audience always appreciates the work the actors do.
Exhibition of
Zi Miao delivered the strongest performance of her career. The former child actor, best remembered for starring alongside Jet Li in My Father Is a Hero and The New Legend of Shaolin, relies entirely on his expression and physicality to tell Wang Wei’s story. He never makes him an untouchable action hero. Instead, he plays him as a scared father running entirely on instinct and desperation.
Joe Taslim adds some much-needed warmth to a film that rarely pauses to catch its breath. His fighting style has also evolved over the years. Gone is some of the raw aggression audiences saw in The Raid and The Night Comes for Us. Here, his movements feel calmer, sharper and much more controlled.
Yang Niu quietly becomes the emotional anchor of the film. As Rainie, she shares a really sweet bond with her father while showcasing her kung fu training. One particular sequence stands out and gives an indication of the confidence she already has in front of the camera.
what works
Kenji Tanigaki and Kensuke Sonomura constantly find new ways to keep the action exciting. No two fight sequences look alike. Fighters attack from every direction, climb walls, overcome obstacles and turn entire locations into giant playgrounds of chaos.
The ice factory scene easily stands out as one of the standout moments of the film. The police station finale is equally impressive and can leave the audience on the edge of their seats. Wei and Naveen turn everything around them into weapons, from hammers and chains to bicycles and even frozen bodies. It’s outrageous, sometimes ridiculous, but always entertaining. More importantly, it proves that there is still plenty of room for growth in action cinema.
what doesn’t work
The Furious never pretends to be a story-based film. Its biggest priority is to present one action sequence after another, and for the most part, it succeeds. Some of the dialogue feels awkward and some emotional moments don’t come across the way they should. The decision to dub only some characters in English and leave others in their original language is also distracting. Honestly, the film would have been better by fully embracing subtitles and allowing everyone to speak their native language.
Storytelling is clearly not the film’s biggest priority. Most of its runtime is devoted to one action sequence after another, and that’s perfectly fine. But at just under two hours, stronger writing, deeper character work and a more memorable background score could have added another layer of emotional weight.
decision
If a film is measured by how boldly it pushes the boundaries of its genre, The Furious is a clear success. A stronger script could have made the emotional moments even more impactful, but as an action film, it’s immensely satisfying. Look past its narrative shortcomings, and you’ll find a thrilling display of inventive stunt work that reminds you why action cinema remains so exciting.
The Furious will release in Indian theaters on June 19, 2026 with an ‘A’ certification.