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Jun 18, 20261
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The Furious: A High-Octane Action Thriller Built on a Simple Revenge Plot
Kenji Tanigaki's 'The Furious' is a straightforward action thriller following a mute father's quest to rescue his kidnapped daughter from a trafficking ring in Southeast Asia. While the plot is minimal and dialogue uneven, the film excels with brilliantly choreographed action sequences and strong physical performances by Miao Xie and Joe Taslim.





Quick Facts
Who
Kenji Tanigaki
What
Film released in theatres
When
2026-06-19
Where
unnamed Southeast Asian town
- Film released in theatres
- Father searches for kidnapped daughter
- Characters fight a trafficking network
- Kenji Tanigaki
- Miao Xie
Director Kenji Tanigaki's latest film, 'The Furious', delivers a visceral action experience centered on a mute man's quest to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Released in theatres on June 19, the film stars Miao Xie, Joe Taslim, Enyou Yang, and Sahajak Boonthanakit, and has quickly become a talking point for its intense, unapologetic approach to action filmmaking.
The plot follows Wang Wei (Miao Xie), a mute Chinese labourer living in an unnamed Southeast Asian town, whose young daughter Rainy (Enyou Yang) is abducted by a child trafficking network. With the local police rendered ineffective by corruption and indifference, Wang Wei takes matters into his own hands. He is joined by Navin (Joe Taslim), a journalist whose wife vanished while investigating the same criminal ring. Their uneasy alliance leads them to Mr. Song (Sahajak Boonthanakit), the mastermind operating from a casino.
What 'The Furious' lacks in narrative complexity, it more than compensates for with its breathtaking action sequences. Choreographed by Kensuke Sonomura, the fights are inventive and brutal, using walls, tools, and even a hammer in a sequence described as uncomfortably realistic. From a man chasing a truck on foot while wearing sandals to meticulously staged warehouse brawls, the film ensures each major fight has its own identity. The action becomes so overpowering that it eventually pulls the viewer into its relentless rhythm.
The performances anchor the film's emotional core. Miao Xie conveys Wang Wei's grief, determination, and exhaustion entirely through expression and body language, never making his character's muteness feel like a gimmick. Joe Taslim brings a simmering anger and a measured sense of humour to Navin, creating a dynamic that is more tense than buddy-movie camaraderie. However, the film's screenplay and dialogue are its weakest points, often feeling stiff due to multilingual production and uneven dubbing. When the action pauses, the momentum falters.
Despite its thin plot, distracting dubbing, and a slightly overlong final stretch, 'The Furious' succeeds on its own terms. It is a film that knows exactly what it is: a straightforward revenge tale that prioritizes jaw-dropping action over intricate storytelling. For audiences seeking an adrenaline-fueled experience, it delivers confidently and thrillingly.
Topics
Why This Matters
For readers who love high-octane action films, 'The Furious' demonstrates that even a minimalist plot can deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience through exceptional fight choreography. It highlights the rising prominence of Asian action cinema and actors like Miao Xie and Joe Taslim, offering a benchmark for visceral, stunt-driven filmmaking.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireReviews of 'The Furious' published
Jun 19, 2026
Wire'The Furious' released in theatres