Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you like FPS games, yes!
Score: 3.5/5
Secret ending? Sort of, audio only.
Running time: 96 minutes (~1.5 hours)
“Hardcore Henry” is a science fiction action film that’s shot almost entirely from a first-person perspective. It follows the adventures of amnesiac Henry, who is lost in Russia but must save his wife and discover the truth behind his apparent transformation. It stars Sharlto Copley (Jimmy), Danila Kozlovsky (Akan), Haley Bennett (Estelle), and Tim Roth (Henry’s father). It is rated R-21.
“Hardcore Henry” gives you a heady rush, partly from the unique perspective, and partly from the copious violence and bloodshed. It’s a bold experiment that pays off handsomely in a film that looks like a live-action video game. Some spoilers though — you never get to see Henry’s face, as evidenced by the fact that there’s no definitive cast member who’s listed as Henry.
Highlights
Henry’s mystery
The game, I mean, film starts you off with a heaping dose of mystery. Who’s Henry? What can he do? Where are they? It’s what drives the first part, as you learn about Henry’s abilities alongside him. Henry’s just as curious as you are about his origins, and you lap up every detail tossed at you along with Henry. And Jimmy (Sharlto Copey) is a quirky and interesting character, who delivers the exposition through a wide variety of facades.
Immersive action
FPS fans (game series like Call of Duty, Counterstrike, and Left for Dead) will appreciate the action because it feels just like a video game. The gore is fun but never indulgent, the music gives that extra zing to the fight scenes, and the violence is laced with dark humour. Sometimes, you’ll even find yourself inadvertently simulating button-pressing motions to make Henry punch harder or faster.
The perspective
While the characters in the film might not be all that three-dimensional, it’s the fact that you see everything through Henry’s eyes that makes them more compelling than they otherwise would. They address the audience, which is also Henry, directly, arousing anger and sadness in both the protagonist and you. Seeing everything from Henry’s point-of-view makes his mystery even more engaging, since you and the protagonist literally have the same knowledge about everything that happens in the film.
Letdowns
The perspective
The camera angles are definitely not for the faint of heart. It dumps you straight in the action shortly after the film begins, and doesn’t let up until much later. There’s no slow learning curve to get you used to the perspective, and it can get very disorienting if you’re not used to it. Slowly easing the audience into this point-of-view would have been a more comfortable approach to take.
Clichéd antagonist
Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) cackles and howls like a villain from the 70’s. He embodies every stereotype of a B movie baddie, and feels like a final boss. He’s so plastic that you don’t feel anything for him, whether it be irritation, anger, or empathy. He’s just there so that Henry has a final opponent to face.
“Hardcore Henry” appeals directly to FPS fans, and if you want a simulation of yourself as a genetically enhanced fighter, this film is for you.
“Hardcore Henry” opens in cinemas 14 April, 2016 (Thursday).
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