Review of Havoc (2005) by Nick A — 08 Jun 2010
A bleak tale of some Valley kids who playact the gangsta lifestyle and get in over their heads when they clash with a genuine East-LA gang. Anne Hathaway is suitably conflicted as Allyson, whose home life consists of a recovering addict mother (Laura San Giacomo) and an absentee father (Michael Biehn), neither of whom seem inclined to give their daughter the love and protection that she needs.
Freddy Rodriguez is frighteningly menacing as Hector, the gang's leader. A certain dread pervades throughout the film as one knows this is destined to end badly, and on that score, it does not disappoint.
Bad things happen, but in a completely ambiguous fashion that leaves one without any sense of closure. It is frightening simply because the gangsta culture is so sanitized by Hollywood and the music industry, that many do not see the inherent dangers.
This film attempts to highlight those dangers, but not as effectively as it might have done had the filmmakers given us a memorable closing scene. This just kind of fizzled out.
This review of Havoc (2005) was written by Nick A on 08 Jun 2010.
Havoc has generally received mixed reviews.
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