After a drug deal gone wrong, a bruised detective must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son, while unravelling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.
Join Jenny as she reviews Netflix’s new release HAVOC and sits down to chat with the one-and-only Luis Guzmán about his role in the film.
For audio, please check out the Atomic Geekdom Podcast to listen in.
By Jenny Robinson
HAVOC premiered on Netflix April 25th, 2025. I made myself a cocktail, sat down and got ready for a fun shoot’em up flick. Less than five minutes in I was yelling at the television “WHAT THE ABSOLUTE F! JUST HAPPENED?!?” It holds nothing back in the intro and proves to be one of the most exciting chase scenes I’ve seen in years. 10 minutes in, I had already lost count of how many bullets were shot and cars destroyed.
It’s fast and A LOT!
Written and directed by Gareth Evans, the tone and grittiness of the film leans into his talent and world building for chaos and (of course) havoc. His portfolio for action and interesting crime (Gangs of London and The Raid to name a few) helps bring this world to life. Each character balances a fine line between unscrupulousness and agreeableness. You find yourself liking some of the not-so-good guys and then really despising the ones that fall over that line. Walker (Tom Hardy) is a prime example of the first one. You shouldn’t like him, yet you still cheer for him every moment as the story is unfolding. He’s paired perfectly with Vincent (Timothy Olyphant) who also exudes confidence, whether justified or not.
Timothy Olyphant in HAVOC
Supporting cast secures this film as a perfect movie night. Forest Whitaker’s Beumount is a complex crooked politician, criminal and father. His son Charlie (Justin Cornwell) and this girlfriend Mia (Quelin Sepulveda) bite off more than they can chew. And Mia’s uncle Raul (Luis Guzmán) round out the team of those not-so-good guys that you find yourself relating to and routing for.
The gangs in this movie have endless bullets but also complexity. Lead by a grieving mother (Yann Yann Yeo), justice blurs the line with vengeance and compliments Whitaker’s. And Michelle Waterson plays an absolute badass assassin that every fight scene had me on the edge of my seat.
Luis Guzmán in HAVOC
This movie is non-stop. In addition to the opening chase scene, we see a guy folded through a door, an epic butcher knife fight, interesting use of a spear gun, battles on 2nd story glass floors and so much more. Seriously - someone please do a bullet/body count. I am guessing 20K bullets and at least 120 deaths, and that’s a conservative count. But despite that, it didn’t feel gratuitous, it felt more like a crazy dance.
Michelle Waterson in HAVOC
Corrupt cops and family love stories. Foreign gangs and redemption. Survival and surrender.
The perfect recipe for an awesome movie night.
I would like to thank Luis Guzmán for taking time out of his schedule to chat with us. Stellar actor and guest. We’re excited to help promote his (and his son Cemi Guzmán’s) Tribeca 2025 Festival short “A West Side Story Story” about a Puerto Rican director who struggles to hold together her “cultural authentic” version of West Side Story. (Premiers June 8th, 2025).
