Warning! This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Havoc.
Gareth Evans’Havocis unique in more ways than one, but it also draws some inspiration from a cult classic 1967 movie. Serving as Gareth Evans' ninth directorial endeavor,Havochas been highly anticipated because of the director’s track record of delivering some of the most gripping action flicks. WithTom Hardy as its lead,Havocwas in the works for quite some time but was held back by several reshoots and other behind-the-scenes issues.
Although the critical response surroundingHavochas been fairly lukewarm, viewers and critics, as expected, have praised the movie for its creative and violent action sequences. It may not be as memorable as Netflix’s other recent crimemovies likeRebel Ridge, butHavocis undoubtedly a unique addition to the genre. However, as different as it may seem from most other action-packed crime dramas, theGareth Evans movieand its Tom Hardy character are loosely based on another renowned 1967 flick in the genre.
1967’s Point Blank Inspired Havoc & The Character Of Walker
Lee Marvin’s Character In Point Blank Was Also Named Walker
In terms of storytelling,Havocadopts many tried and tested action tropes. Owing to this, it cannot be associated with any specific action movies. However, when it comes to its portrayal of the “verticality” of destruction that Tom Hardy’s Walker triggers with his pursuit of seeking justice, it seems reminiscent of John Boorman’s 1967 cult classic,Point Blank. It is also hard not to notice how,like Boorman, Gareth Evans cleverly uses several shots of high and low angles during action sequencesto ensure viewers are able to distinguish Walker from his surroundings.
The lone-wolf archetype has been overused in action movies, but Tom Hardy and Lee Marvin inHavocandPoint Blank, respectively, bring a similarly unique intensity to their characters with their screen presence.
The fact that the protagonist’s name inPoint Blankis also Walker should be enough of an indicator thatTom Hardy’sHavoccharacteris loosely based on him. A closer look at the heroes from both films highlights howthey have a sense of minimalism in their writing. Both Walkers are men of few words, and their actions are primarily driven by their survival instincts rather than elaborate dialogue. The lone-wolf archetype has been overused in action movies, but Tom Hardy and Lee Marvin inHavocandPoint Blank, respectively, bring a similarly unique intensity to their characters with their screen presence.
What Else Inspired Gareth Evans When Making Havoc
Gareth Evans Drew Inspiration From Many Other Classic Action Flicks
Netflix’s production notes forHavocconfirm that the action movie’s similarities withPoint Blankare not accidental. Gareth Evans disclosed that he consciously drew inspiration from the cult classic while directing his film. Evans also revealed thathe looked at several other American action movies from the sixties and seventies for inspiration. For instance,French Connectionwas another movie that became a source of ideas forHavoc.
Apart from that, he also noticed what John Woo did with movies likeThe Killer,Hard Boiled, and other Yakuza films he loved. With so many inspirations behind its action, character beats, and storytelling,Havocrisks being too derivative of well-known flicks of the genre. However, despite this, it gets away with its heavy influences because Gareth Evans injects it with some of his own elements, like white-knuckling, quick-paced action sequences grounded in gritty realism and stomach-churning violence.
Havoc
Havoc, released in 2025, follows a jaded cop navigating a corrupt city’s criminal underworld after a drug heist spirals out of control. Tasked with rescuing a politician’s son, the film delves into themes of crime and redemption as the protagonist battles relentless opposition.
