In case it wasn’t painfully obvious, the majority of revenge thrillers in existence tend to stick to a crystal clear formula made even easier to follow by modern classics like “John Wick,” “Taken,” and “Oldboy“; a tragic event upends the life of a seemingly average citizen, said citizen goes after the perpetrators, said citizen’s special set of skills may be unveiled in the process and the goal is eventually achieved amidst a ballet of violence coupled with the added bonus of John McClane-esque quips along the way. As is the case with any genre, some may reach iconic status far better than others. But in the case of “Mayhem!”, the newest arrival to the revenge party, various tropes find themselves lightly discarded in a manner that results in a compelling, swift actioner that balances bone-crushing fights with captivating characters and dialogue that crosses of language barriers with complete ease. It’s an unexpected triumph in every way, no easy feat in a sea of clones.
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“Mayhem!” brings us into the world of Sam (Nassim Lyes), an incarcerated professional boxer and model prisoner with a less-than-wholesome former life; the trademark of many an onscreen hero. It isn’t long upon earning his parole that his past, quite literally, chases him down in an effort to draw him back. Predictably, things do not proceed as intended, with the film’s first well-edited scuffle ending with an accidental death, prompting Sam’s immediate decision to flee and, years later, begin a new life with wife Mia (Loryn Nounay) and her daughter Dara (Chananticha Tang-Kwa). Sam’s plan is to use the accumulated funds from his job as a hotel baggage handler and his semi-resumed boxing career to fund a restauruant that he hopes will continue to elevate his family’s life. Unfortunately, his economic efforts are not nearly enough, so Sam soon finds himself on the path of lawlessness once more, which see Mia’s horrific death and Dara’s kidnapping by the same criminals who offered Sam the job. Now it’s up to Sam to carry out some well-deserved revenge.
Derivative? Only slightly. “Mayhem!” is quick to establish Sam’s ability to handle himself in a tight spot. But the acting chops on display by Lyes present a desperation rarely seen in a main character that injects a healthy dose of humanity into this type of hero. Lyes’ performance prevents Sam from drifting into cliché and showcases a character armed with the sort of motivation to which any parent or spouse can’t help but relate. For one, there’s substantially less planning in Sam’s actions. An early scene sees Sam torpedoing through a house of baddies while asking anyone who will listen if they know the whereabouts of Dara. Seeing Sam thrust a photo of Dara into a group of worried faces with a sweaty, frantic look is an effective balance to the violence seen just moments prior, and this is only one of several similarly effective moments the movie speeds along at an easily digestible clip. Recent genre entries such as “Silent Night” show the main character taking their time, working out their plan and their physical fitness until they’re ready to execute. “Mayhem!” shows an altogether different, desperate tactic, with a husband and father at the end of his rope. Coupled with the fact that the public believes him dead after his wife’s murder, Sam realizes that outside of his life with Dara, he has nothing left to lose. “Mayhem!” makes Sam’s recklessness especially palpable.
Throughout the film’s 109-minute runtime, “Mayhem!” presents a masterclass in acting, most notably seen in Lyes’ frantic actions. In his hands, what would be a blank stare for lesser actors turns into a gaze of real menace. A perfect example happens during Bangkok-set club set-piece, a horrific front for the trafficking of children. As Sam scans the blank faces of the captured kids, his focus shifts to the woman in charge, raising the tension in a way that can’t help but command attention on what may happen next. Subtitles help as the film transitions from French to Thai and English, all of which are spoken flawlessly by much of the cast. But this is hardly a hinderance as director/co-writer Xavier Gens (“Hitman, “Gangs of London”) still allows any character at any given moment the chance to command attention, from Sam’s Mr. Miyagi-type father figure to crime boss Narong, used effectively and played with enough low-key threat by Olivier Gourmet. It also helps that the film succeeds time and again in delivering real emotion every time the action takes a breather. The film’s pacing never prompts the desire for viewers to check the time. Instead, audiences may wish that “Mayhem!” couldn’t be somewhat longer, as the resolution wraps up the story nicely while also reminding audiences of how easy it is to care about everything that’s just occurred.
There’s a chance that “Mayhem!”raises the bar in its niche genre by offering a well-handled equilibrium between explosive fights and character development. There’s enough differences in its overall structure to set it apart from its recent counterparts, esteemed as some of those are. But “Mayhem!” makes it easy to anticipate Gens’ next project, Lyes’ next starring role and, perhaps most importantly, the chance to take in “Mayhem!” once more. Revenge is often described as a dish best served cold, but with the way “Mayhem!” draws audiences into its compelling story, this film is white hot, and reminds audiences why revenge is on the menu in the first place. [A]