It has been almost ten years since filmmaker George Miller revived his post-apocalyptic franchise with Fury Road and the latest instalment is a prequel to that, delving into the origin tale of a warrior that quickly became iconic to fans of the series. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne as younger versions of the titular character, adventure epic Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga sees her being abducted from her family as a child by Dr. Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), a wicked gang leader. Years later, a savage rivalry begins between her captors and an army led by Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), and Furiosa desperately tries to find a way home.
It’s almost impossible to discuss this film without comparing it to its aforementioned predecessor and while that was essentially a relentless two hour chase sequence, this chapter offers some quieter spells to catch your breath amongst the chaos. The narrative is divided into five sections, the second of which does the world-building legwork in establishing the who’s who of the ensuing conflict. We are made to wait, perhaps a little too long, for the full-throttle action to kick in and when it does, it’s exhilarating. As the story progresses, a classic revenge plot develops, playing out as expected but without bringing anything fresh or original to the table.
As you would expect with this ‘action speaks louder than words’ type of production, the script, co-written by Miller and Nico Lathouris, is pretty light on dialogue and yet the performances are strong across the board. Browne holds her own for the first hour before Anya Taylor-Joy is introduced as our twenty-something protagonist with powerful main character energy and some of the most expressive eye acting you’ll see on the big screen all year. She is supported on her mission by rig commander Praetorian Jack, played by Tom Burke who offers up an understated portrayal given the hyperactive nature of the film. Model-turned-actor Charlee Fraser sets the tone of the piece in an impressive opening act, but the standout turn comes from Chris Hemsworth in what is arguably a career-best role. Aided by make-up and a prosthetic hook nose in his transformation, he brings a brilliant, ruthless menace to the part and completely leans into the film’s madcap style.
Ultimately giving more of the same but without the innovative spectacle or wow factor of what has come before, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga manages to be wholly entertaining and yet a little underwhelming at the same time.
Cinema Perspective 