While Obsession out of 2025’s edition of TIFF and A24’s Backrooms are sweeping the nation both critically and at the box office, another 2025 TIFF Midnight Madness selection is, sadly, staying under the radar of most moviegoers. Kenji Tanigaki takes the director’s chair for The Furious, a high-octane, modern Hong Kong action film. The Furious shared Midnight Madness Audience Award runner-up status with Obsession, and was reportedly one of the more exciting premiere screenings in Toronto last fall. The film follows a mute tradesman (Xie Miao) and Navin (Joe Taslim), a journalist, as they investigate a human trafficking ring that has taken the former’s daughter and caused the latter’s wife to disappear after looking into it herself.
It would be difficult to continue talking about this movie without stating the obvious: IT RULES. When you look up “Things that rule” in the dictionary, action scenes from this movie play in an endless loop. One of the main reasons the action is so cool here is Kenji Tanigaki’s long history as a stunt coordinator and action choreographer. My introduction to his work was Soi Cheang’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, one of the best international films of 2024. What stood out to me in that film was the combination of top-notch action filmmaking and an incredibly compelling story. While the story isn’t as tight in The Furious, the action is arguably better.
The upside of the weak story here is that it’s about human traffickers, which means the good guys can do whatever they want to them, and the audience won’t feel bad about the damage they’re inflicting. There are multiple 10-plus minute stretches of pure action that are absolutely breathtaking, including a stint early in the film featuring the most impressive flip-flop running you’ll ever see from Miao’s tradesman. Each action scene has a fun setpiece, whether it be an interesting setting or unique weapons that are just begging to be used.
Xie Miao is especially adept at communicating pain and grief throughout the film without ever uttering a word. His eyes really are the windows to his soul. He’s the doer of the main duo, running into battle without a second thought or a clear plan of attack. It may be foolish at times, but it certainly speeds up Navin’s investigation.
The two leads are outstanding in both fight scenes and quieter moments, but the most entertaining actor to watch is Brian Le, a gargantuan henchman with the tenacity of a honey badger and the resiliency of The Undertaker. He uses his whole body like a battering ram, just constantly coming at our heroes at several points in the film. Even though he’s on the wrong side of things, it’s impossible not to light up with excitement when it’s clear he’s about to enter the fray.
While the story isn’t exactly the most innovative, I can appreciate what they’re going for here. Fighting against human trafficking is one of the most unifying causes on the planet, and uncovering the corruption that’s keeping these trades under wraps is key to saving a lot of lives on this front. There are several points at which the overarching plot comes into view of the masses, and an overwhelming sensation of unity springs them into action in critical moments. Whether it be the police force or people on the street, the human desire to protect the innocent shines through in this movie.
Production designer Pongnarin Jonghawklang builds out incredible stages for the action to take place, my favorite being a club with a fighting octagon at its center. The combination of flashing lights, loud music, and the good guys having to face formidable, professional (in a sense) fighters is just a wonderful sight. Jonghawklang crafts fascinating environments that play into how each scene plays out.
The Furious genuinely has the best action choreography you’ll see this year, led by Xie Miao and Joe Taslim. It’s well worth seeing on the biggest screen possible.
The Furious is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Lionsgate.
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The Furious genuinely has the best action choreography you’ll see this year led by Xie Miao and Joe Taslim. It’s well worth seeing on the biggest screen possible.
Proud owner of three movie passes. Met Harrison Ford at a local diner once. Based in Raleigh, NC.
