An unabashed first-person shooter, Hardcore Henry is packed with non-stop action. The story (if it can be called such) follows a cyborg named Henry who awakens to his wife being abducted by a mysterious telekinetic crime boss, but he manages to escape capture and goes on the run, getting help from a techie named Jimmy who gives him tasks to complete that will help him survive. Shot entirely in first person, the film commits 100% to the “first-person shooter” video game aesthetic; even going so far as to have Jimmy randomly show up on every level with a fresh map of where to go and instructions on what to do. However, either through poor writing or directing, it’s really hard to follow what’s going on and incredibly disorienting. Still, Sharlto Copley and Haley Bennett manage to deliver fairly good performances, and the fight scenes are incredibly intense and exciting; at least for a while, until it all becomes a bunch of noise. Hardcore Henry has a daring vision and is entertaining, but it doesn't really work as a film.
Shout by Dann MichalskiBlockedParent2022-02-24T17:00:05Z
An unabashed first-person shooter, Hardcore Henry is packed with non-stop action. The story (if it can be called such) follows a cyborg named Henry who awakens to his wife being abducted by a mysterious telekinetic crime boss, but he manages to escape capture and goes on the run, getting help from a techie named Jimmy who gives him tasks to complete that will help him survive. Shot entirely in first person, the film commits 100% to the “first-person shooter” video game aesthetic; even going so far as to have Jimmy randomly show up on every level with a fresh map of where to go and instructions on what to do. However, either through poor writing or directing, it’s really hard to follow what’s going on and incredibly disorienting. Still, Sharlto Copley and Haley Bennett manage to deliver fairly good performances, and the fight scenes are incredibly intense and exciting; at least for a while, until it all becomes a bunch of noise. Hardcore Henry has a daring vision and is entertaining, but it doesn't really work as a film.