The Furious (2026)

​“The Furious” stars Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Yang Enyou, Jeeja Yanin, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga, and Yayan Ruhian.  Released at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and followed by a United States and Hong Kong release on June 12, 2026, the film follows a handyman who teams up with a journalist to rescue his daughter.

The film was directed by Kenji Tanigaki, an action choreographer and stunt performer who also directed “Legend of Seven Monks” and “Enter the Fat Dragon”.  It’s sad that criminals never learn the consequences of harming or kidnapping the loved one of an individual.  Sure, this person may seem harmless based on their appearance, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous.  It’s what makes their punishments so satisfying, especially when that ordinary person turns out to be a butt-kicking machine who’ll stop at nothing to avenge or retrieve those they care about.  The cinematic world has always proved time and again that this action-paced concept never fails to deliver the nonstop thrills and intense choreography stemming from a protagonist’s rescue mission.  Of course, I’m not just talking about the ones made in Hollywood.  I’m also referring to the film industry in international countries, particularly Hong Kong, where they develop high-octane action movies that pull no punches in their choreography and violence.  This latest blood-soaked thrill ride from stunt performer/filmmaker Kenji Tanigaki is no different, as it highlights a tough-as-nails rescue mission formed by an ordinary duo who are anything but.  Was it furious enough to deliver a white-knuckled, merciless treat for action fans?  Let’s find out.

The story centers on Wang Wei (Miao), a mute handyman living in a Southeast Asian city with his daughter, Rainy (Enyou).  One day, Wang discovers that Rainy has been kidnapped by a ruthless gang of criminals responsible for the disappearances of many children, prompting him to set out to rescue her.  He also joins forces with a journalist named Navin (Taslim), who’s searching for the same group of kidnappers responsible for taking his wife.  They infiltrate the criminal underworld, where they confront the toughest thugs in the country.  Fortunately, Wang and Navin are far from ordinary, as the duo possesses skills that are as dangerous as they are, which they’ll use to survive and rescue their loved ones.

I have an undeniable soft spot for action movies, but seeing those made in other countries, including Japan and Indonesia, is a completely different story.  Yes, they follow similar narratives to those we usually get from Hollywood, but they also have one aspect that sets them apart from traditional American ones: the choreography.  There’s just something about it that makes almost every scenario feel more authentic and intense as opposed to modern action blockbusters.  These movies make me feel every punch, kick, bash, crack, and slash generated from people’s bodies as if they were the real deal.  They’re extremely painful to watch, but they’re also filled with the satisfaction of watching the relentless storm of flying fists unfold on the screen.  I applaud not only these international action movies for standing out from the genre crowd with their gruesome violence and choreography, but also the stunt performers, who went through hell and back to pull off these dangerous stunts.  

That alone was the main reason why I had been anticipating “The Furious”.  Right after watching the film’s trailer, I immediately knew that it would be on my list of must-see movies of the summer.  It’s got pretty much everything I would expect from an international action thriller, such as ruthless choreography, a grounded, gritty tone, and some of the biggest names in the cinematic martial arts industry, including Joe Taslim.  But what matters the most is whether these elements would be enough to carry its straightforward narrative and grisly appeal.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in on the relentless action and stakes.  In fact, they’re some of the things that keep me engaged.  It’s that in most action movies, the violence shown can only take them so far if their plots don’t have enough heft to warrant people breaking their bones or worse.  Fortunately for me, “The Furious” offers more than enough in its familiar narrative to elevate the explosive violence depicted onscreen.  It’s brutal, relentless, wild, and consistently satisfying in its action and heart, all of which equate to the most fun I had this year, action or otherwise.

The plot is, unsurprisingly, straightforward, akin to “Taken,” if "Taken" stars Liam Neeson as a silent protagonist whose fists move faster than the Road Runner.  You have a man attempting to be a better father to his daughter, and he gets the chance to do so by rescuing her and beating the crud out of the kidnappers.  It also features an unlikely partnership between Wang and Navin, who seek different kinds of justice: Wang, fueled by his love for Rainy, and Navin, by his determination to expose the organization’s heinous crimes.  The elements are on the wall, clear as day, but its strong execution helps keep its tropes from taking too much of a beating.  The story is not only constantly exciting, well-paced, and fun, but it also infuses plenty of heart, making its butt-kicking duo worth rooting for.  Even amid its familiar outcome, it’s always crucial to make the characters compelling enough in their backgrounds to match the intense stakes it sought to portray.  “The Furious” is another solid example of this case, particularly in its “less is more” approach for Wang and Navin.  Besides its familiarity, my only issue with its script is that the English dialogue was pretty iffy in most cases.  It didn’t distract me from the white-knuckled journey too much, though it can be a problem for those who prefer characters speaking in different languages.

Now, I’m sure you only checked out my review to read my thoughts on the film’s action scenes, and I always deliver on those promises.  The action was seen as the main highlight of “The Furious”, especially when it comes to the insane choreography.  I was a little concerned at first that these scenes might not live up to the hype they built, and I’ve seen plenty of movies that were similarly designed, including “The Raid”.  But after watching the movie, I felt nothing but relief and happiness that the action lived up to the movie’s title.  It’s downright furious in the best way.  The action sequences are ferocious, savage, and bone-crushingly intense, especially in their brilliant choreography, which highlights the fast-paced dynamics of the combat and the props they use to deliver wince-inducing pain.  They’re also framed very well by Meteor Cheung’s cinematography, and the third act?  Ooo, boy.  You won’t be prepared for what the third act brings to the table.  Given Kenji Tanigaki’s skilled direction and the scenario's fierce nature, the finale is a bloody, fist-flying Battle Royale that’s also one of my favorite sequences in the action genre.  Its runtime may feel like overkill due to its gritty, repetitive structure, but the pacing and dynamic tension ensure that every minute of this violent mission is earned.  It’s moments like this that make me glad I support these types of action films and even the stunt people behind them.  They'd better get good paychecks for these crazy and painful stunts they’ve endured.

Xie Miao was someone I wasn’t familiar with until I saw him in action in “The Furious”.  Not only were his martial arts skills incredible to watch, but his acting between the beatdowns was pretty good, too.  Miao was tasked with injecting emotional heft into a protagonist whose actions speak louder than words.  Wang is another character who doesn’t speak throughout the entire movie, leaving the actor to convey their emotions through facial expressions and choreography.  The result is far from perfect, but it is nonetheless an engaging and even heartfelt display of talent, showcasing Miao as both a lean, mean fighting machine and a confident actor.  Another actor worth noting is Joe Taslim, who’s one of the cast members I recognize the most, particularly for his appearances in modern Hollywood movies like “Fast & Furious 6” and the “Mortal Kombat” reboot.  He was also Sergeant Jaka in “The Raid”, another international action movie I really enjoyed.  Taslim made a solid impression on me as a martial artist and actor based on the previous roles he took, and I’m happy to see that his performance as Navin is no different.  As Miao did for Wang, Taslim effectively conveyed his character’s determination for justice, with his background adding a touch of emotion to underscore his personal journey.  Additionally, Yayan Ruhian from the “Raid” movies and “Boy Kills World” makes an appearance as the bow-wielding Tak, and he was once again fierce with his choreography.  You can say that Robin Hood wished he could move as swiftly with a bow and arrow as he did.

Overall, “The Furious” lives up to the name with a fierce, bone-crushing, and highly entertaining action bonanza that’s furious enough to stand alongside the genre’s other violently satisfying hits.  While its plot is basically “Taken” meets “The Raid”, director Kenji Tanigaki makes the most of its similar premise by delivering some of the best, most brutally inventive action sequences ever put on film.  More importantly, they’re effectively combined with an engaging narrative that offers enough heart in its characters to fight past its noticeable tropes with ease.  Its English dialogue does come off rough at times, especially in the way it’s delivered by its supporting cast.  Besides that minor flaw, this is another great reason why international martial arts films stand out in the genre compared to those made in traditional Hollywood.  Heck, I would even be quick to call it one of my favorites in the genre.  In terms of its main leads, Tanigaki’s dynamic direction, incredible action scenes, and compelling narrative tropes, the film has the right fury to stand out from the Hollywood summer blockbuster crowd.  If you enjoy these types of movies, especially “The Raid”, this relentless, bloody-knuckled venture is worth your attention.

A-