Review of Hardcore Henry (2015) by Andythemovieman 2 — 27 May 2017

Movies and video games have been straddling the line between each other for some time now; i.e., sometimes a movie feels more like a video game, and vice versa (to varying degrees of success). But Ilya Naishuller's "Hardcore Henry" comes about as close to crossing the line as a film can get, short of actually making the thing interactive with its audience. The film is shot entirely from the first person perspective with a GoPro camera mounted on the head of the main character, whom we never get a clear view of and who never speaks. This is because, for all intents of purposes, the main character is supposed to be YOU, viewer in the audience. You're experiencing all these crazy adventures.

In other words, this is a first person shooter. This is "GoldenEye 007." This is "Doom." This is "Call of Duty." It's as if you're picking up a gun and shooting some bad guys yourself.

Well...kinda sorta. It's not really you're like playing this video game; it'd be more accurate to say that it's like you're watching someone else playing it. And therefore the level of enjoyment will just depend on the individual. Personally, if it's a game I have an interest in for one reason or another, I kind of enjoy watching another person play, particularly if that person is more skilled at the game than I am. Would I rather be playing myself? It depends on the game, but for the most part, the answer is probably "yes." But that doesn't mean I can't still get a vicarious thrill out of being a spectator, at least on some level.

So "Hardcore Henry" is undoubtedly a "gimmick" film, and those kind of films can really go either way, depending on how successful the gimmick is. To me, the movie got off to a shaky start, particularly when the hand-to-hand combat started. The action just looked very muddled and it was a bit hard to discern what was happening. I'm not prone to motion sickness generally, but I was getting a bit of a headache in the early goings.

However, the film's craft seemed to improve as the movie went on, and despite my misgivings, I actually began to gradually enjoy myself. Some of this was due to Sharlto Copley's loony supporting performance as a sort of live-action Kenny from "South Park." But mostly I think the gimmick just grew on me. The set-pieces got more and more elaborate, leading to a gonzo climax that's just plain exhilarating. Picture "The Raid" from the point of view of main character Rama, and that'll give you a pretty good idea.

The story is meh, involving the eponymous Henry (who is part cyborg) attempting to save his wife (Haley Bennett) from a band of well-armed thugs, all the while getting assistance from Copley's Jimmy. But the story is merely a vehicle for the gimmick; no one's really going to be talking about the story when all is said and done. Ditto for Henry's characterization, which is a blank slate by design. He's the audience's avatar, after all.

"Hardcore Henry" is really something of an intriguing experiment, unique among action films for going all the way in its video game-like aspirations. (The movie based on "Doom" had a small segment like this, but that felt like little more than fan service. Here the filmmakers seem far more committed.) That may turn some viewers away right from the onset, and I can understand that. Maybe being something of a gamer myself made me a little more susceptible and allowed me to overcome my early doubts. In a manner of speaking, I've been in Henry's shoes before.

Your mileage may vary. It's certainly not for everyone.

A special warning should go out though to those who do get motion sickness. If "The Blair Witch Project" made you nauseous, this one just might make your stomach implode.