Hardcore Henry Is A First-Person Action Filled Frenzy

Filmed in Moscow, Russia, Hardcore Henry was released on April 8, and it is one of the most intense films in theatres.

It’s called Hardcore Henry for a reason. The film will leave you dizzy, laughing and kind of nauseous. If you are a person that succumbs to motion-sickness easily, this is not a movie for you. But, if you love mayhem and ridiculous on-foot chases, you will love this Hollywood action flick.

Hardcore Henry is not your typical movie, it’s more like your own personal ride through a maze from a first-person perspective. Your only shot at seeing Henry’s face is not until the very end because through the treacherous, unsafe, perilous adventure you only see his hands, jeans and white sneakers. It’s similar to Tim Burton’s Batman movies, except back in 1989 no one knew the true face of the bat and what was behind the mask, cave and bat mobile.

The movie has an immense amount of violence, gory scenes and bloody fights. Hardcore Henry is told through the eyes of the protagonist, Henry, a half machine, half human who is awakened from death by his wife, Estelle (Haley Bennett). Henry finds out that someone wants him dead.

You will learn to hate Henry’s nemesis, Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), a lunatic warlord with an army of mercenaries, and you will despise the Moscow policeman and snipers who attempt to gun down Henry.

Once you go through the battle, if you are mentally tough enough to handle to craziness, you will find yourself on Henry’s side. You will want him to discover the meaning of his existence, as well as the fate of his kidnapped wife and his true identity.

You will absolutely love Henry’s friend, Jimmy (Sharlto Copley), who attempts to guide Henry to safety and possibly his identity. Hardcore Henry is mind boggling and dangerous, so it’s no surprise that Copley was given the role as his friend, who helps him find Henry’s seized wife Estelle while maneuvering through the tough streets of Moscow. With his British accent and mysterious appearances throughout Hardcore Henry, you aren’t sure whether Jimmy is there to help Henry or lead him to his death. Copley is no stranger to menacing roles as well, if you recall District 9 (2009), The A-Team (2010) and Elysium (2013). They all add another knot of craziness.

I would compare this movie to action-thrillers like Die Hard (1988) or Crank (2006), except with quadruple the killings and life-threatening experiences. Director Ilya Naishuller’s idea to make this movie with a GoPro camera is riveting, although certain moviegoers were unable to handle the rapid movements, some even left in the middle of the film. I personally stuck through it, and you should too because in the end, that’s what entertainment is all about.