Ok, after all of these years, you know me pretty well. I’m hesitant to compare anything to The Raid because it’s truly a one-of-a-kind movie. Well, my favorite movie out of TIFF last year came pretty damn close to matching its visceral, intense, brutal action. That movie was Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious, and if it had been released last year it would’ve topped my list of 2025’s best. Well, it’s here now and arriving in theaters on May 29th courtesy of Lionsgate, and if you better not miss it.
Xie Miao (The New Legend of Shaolin) and The Raid‘s Joe Taslim star in The Furious, and basically they will kick anybody’s ass to rescue the ones they love. Miao plays Wang Wei, an ordinary guy who turns into an unstoppable force when his daughter is kidnapped by traffickers. Taslim plays Navin, a journalist on the trail of his missing wife who was investigating the criminal syndicate.
Yang Enyou, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul, Guo Junqing, Winai Wiangyangkung, another The Raid alum Yayan Ruhian, and Jija Yanin round out the cast.
Director Kenji Tanigaki of Enter the Fat Dragon came up with even nuttier fight sequences than in that crazy flick. But who you don’t want to miss is Brian Le, who seriously throws his weight around demolishes everyone and everything in his path. You won’t forget him.
Synopsis: After the daughter of Wang Wei (Xie Miao) is kidnapped by a criminal network and he receives no help from the corrupt police, Wei sets out on a rampage to find her himself. His only ally is Navin (Joe Taslim) – a relentless journalist whose wife has mysteriously disappeared. Fueled by a furious vengeance, the unlikely duo ruthlessly fights against the kidnappers in this explosive martial arts showdown.
Lionsgate has an instant classic on its hands with The Furious. Check out the new trailer below and my early review here.
