In recent years Indonesian productions have flipped the action genre on its head by giving us some of the best and most brutal films of the 21st Century. Look no further than the two instalments of The Raid and Headshot. With Netflix’s backing, the industry has done it again with The Night Comes For Us.
Ito, an ex-Triad enforcer, is being hunted down by his former affiliates because he saved one of his victim’s daughter. Although it’s a simple story, the sprinkling of emotion builds a connection between protagonist and audience. You care about the end goal.
You wouldn’t come to a film like The Night Comes for Us and expect an expertly crafted narrative akin to Forrest Gump. You’re here to see a single man blitz through hundreds of Triad thugs in the most violently creative ways.
Cars crashing, knives flying, people lit on fire and so much more. The human anatomy is deconstructed in myriad of blood-soaked manners. Director Timo Tjahjanto and cinematographer Gunnar Nimpuno perfectly craft each of these takedowns in their own specific styles of camera movements and shots. Distinct from many action films, the limited use of shaky cam allows every fight to be seen with crisp clarity. And the actors do an amazing job making the violence feel real.
This film won’t be sweeping at the Oscars, but it offers amazing set pieces and brutal action sequences that compete with the likes of Mission Impossible: Fallout and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Grab a big bag of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the complete carnage.
The Night Comes for Us is now available on Netflix.
