“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” Review
Anya Taylor-Joy stars in “Furiosa” as the titular character made famous by Charlize Theron in “Mad Max: Fury Road”. “Furiosa” serves as a prequel to 2015 action classic as well as the first film in the “Mad Max” series to not have Max be a primary character.
Very few action films have had the impact of “Mad Max: Fury Road”. The 2015 film not only revived interest in the cult classic “Mad Max” films but showcased all of the wizardry that director George Miller had acquired since the release of the 1979 original film. It’s easily one of the best action films I’ve ever seen and one of the best films to come from the 2010s. While Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Max was an excellent follow-up to Mel Gibson’s iconic character, it was Charlize Theron’s Furiosa that got a lot of people’s attention. Alongside characters like Foxy Brown, Ellen Ripley and Wonder Woman, Furiosa has become one of cinema’s best heroines.
When it was announced that George Miller had expressed interest in making a prequel film centered on the character, it was met with much anticipation from fans and the usual development hell that studios have decided to apply to anything George Miller wants to make. Now, nine years after “Fury Road” wowed audiences, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” has arrived. Towards the end of the film, Chris Hemsworth asks “are you prepared to make it epic?” If that was a question for George Miller, the answer is most definitely “fuck yes” because “Furiosa” is a remarkable prequel that, like it’s predecessor, pushes what summer blockbuster cinema is capable of with excellent character, action and spectacle.
Years before the events of “Fury Road”, a young girl named Furiosa (Alyla Browne) is kidnapped by a psychotic warlord named Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) who roams the apocalyptic Wasteland of the Australian Outback in search of power. Seeking revenge against Dementus, a grown-up Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) trains herself in combat and mechanics to become the indispensable ally of warlord Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). With Dementus making enemies right-and-left, Furiosa orchestrates a new flavor of vengeance that will make her into the character we all know.
If you have seen the other four “Mad Max” films, especially “Fury Road”, then you probably know what this film is going to be like from a style perspective. The apocalypse that Miller depicts is full of insanity and is still one of the most brilliant looking dystopias that I’ve ever seen. It’s like if you combined “Dune” with all of those Roger Corman motorcycle movies and “Bullitt”. The story is simple, the characters don’t talk too much and it all works into the genius of these movies. “Mad Max” is the perfect idea of simple but deep. This is a film that is trying to be as visual as possible with the storytelling and it all culminates in an action-packed extravaganza that is a more than worthy follow-up to “Fury Road”.
As Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy really embodies this internalized anger that is waiting for the right moment to make a calculated strike. You see how this person grows into the character that Charlize Theron originated but there is that youthful inexperience that is interesting to watch. This Furiosa is still figuring out how to survive and the journey from helpless bystander to kick-ass action lead is captivating. I wasn't expecting Alyla Browne’s version of the character to be in the film as much as she is. Instead of being in a couple of scenes at the beginning, 45 minutes is dedicated to showing Furiosa as a child and I think that Browne was just as good in this role as Taylor-Joy and Theron.
Chris Hemsworth is also insanely charismatic with his portrayal of Dementus and I have a strong feeling that he’s been waiting for a role like this for a while. I’m sure he loves to play Thor and other assorted heroes but I haven’t seen him in a villainous role since his Manson-like turn in “Bad Times at the El Royale” back in 2018. This is the kind of character that you love to hate because he is a truly deplorable man and you want to see him get the comeuppance he deserves but Hemsworth is having such a ball with his performance. Together, Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth create a rivalry that feels so personal and is conveyed with very little dialogue. Instead, everyone’s expressions are layered with meaning and the explosions do the talking.
Like every other film in this franchise, spectacle is essential and Miller always achieves it with an emphasis on practical effects and stunt work. Between the stunts on this film and “The Fall Guy”, it’s clear that the real heroes of this industry are stunt performers. When you look at how well choreographed the action sequences of “Furiosa” are, it hits you just how many of these dangerous moves were accomplished within the frame of a camera. Every element of filmmaking excels in making the viewer feel so excited to be seeing this film on an IMAX screen. The music by Tom Holkenborg, the cinematography by Simon Duggan and the editing by Eliot Knapman and Margaret Sixel all seamlessly come together to bring us some visceral action that had my jaw dropped.
While almost a half-hour longer than the previous film (and much longer than the original trilogy), “Furiosa” is paced remarkably well with an excellent balance of boundary-pushing action sequences and character development. There certainly must have been pressure to create something as magnetic as “Fury Road” and many filmmakers might fall into the trap of doing the exact same thing. Instead of feeling like a lighter version of “Fury Road”, “Furiosa” carves its own path as a revenge film/origin story, much like the original “Mad Max” film. But while “Mad Max” was a low-budget film that was still finding what would become the franchise’s style, this is much larger in scale and impresses accordingly.
George Miller’s world is one of my favorite fantasy realms in cinema. Any excuse to return to the Outback is always welcome and “Furiosa” was well worth the time I spent in front of an IMAX screen as I lost myself into a world where I think I would instantly die. It’s not only one of the best prequels I’ve seen but it’s a fantastic entry in this series. My only hope is that the next film doesn’t take another nine years to make. Would five be too much to ask?
