STX Entertainment | Release Date: April 8, 2016
7.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 569 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
442
Mixed:
79
Negative:
48
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6
BroyaxJul 25, 2018
C'est un défi de tourner un film entièrement en vue subjective, la vue de nombreux jeux vidéo à succès depuis belle lurette déjà... un défi pas totalement relevé ici, la faute sans doute à cette vue elle-même qui devient souvent confuse dansC'est un défi de tourner un film entièrement en vue subjective, la vue de nombreux jeux vidéo à succès depuis belle lurette déjà... un défi pas totalement relevé ici, la faute sans doute à cette vue elle-même qui devient souvent confuse dans l'action : essayez simplement de courir avec une caméra vissée sur la caboche, vous verrez que c'est très pénible à regarder...

Il aurait fallu un stabilisateur ou un genre de steadycam mais également des ralentis pour ralentir l'action, car le corps-à-corps est évidemment confus et bordélique à souhait... de même que les poursuites qui filent presque la migraine... C'est le souci quand on fait un film entier avec une Go Pro ! L'avantage (au moins), c'est que le montage est très calme sinon on y capterait vraiment que dalle.

Mais le film a d'autres atouts, comme son ultra-violence déjantée, ses fusillades et ses explosions qui assurent un spectacle qui ne faiblit décidément pas ! et un nombre de macabés impressionnant au compteur : une forte concurrence à un John Wick ou un A Toute Epreuve (il y a certainement photo à l'arrivée...). Film déjanté de bout en bout donc dont le scénario ne tient qu'à un fil très ténu auquel on ne fait pas attention, simple prétexte à une action délirante...

Une expérience assez intéressante en tout cas, une sorte de curiosité que seuls des Russes imbibés de vodka pouvaient oser et mener plus ou moins à bien... Hardcore jusqu'à la dernière seconde !
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0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
LoletinAlexisJun 6, 2018
Hardcore Henry is a movie that feels too long. The concept is fine, but not surprising. The CGI at times is horror.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
drone41Feb 9, 2018
Very interesting way to direct the movie. You feel like you are in some video game. A little expected end, but it's okay.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
ryu9376Nov 3, 2018
Hardcore Henry was violence with violence with a side of violence... I'll be damn if I've seen anything like this in my 40 plus years of living... Daaaaamn.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
BrianMcCriticJul 30, 2016
This film throws punch after punch at you with a lot landing but by the end your kind of tired and you really just need a breather. Interesting for awhile but couldn't make it last. C
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
tjman09Apr 16, 2016
With such a focus on originality today, many filmmakers feel pressured to go out and find the next big thing. Unfortunately, the POV first person camera may be the next big fad in Hollywood, and that’s not good. Hardcore Henry is veryWith such a focus on originality today, many filmmakers feel pressured to go out and find the next big thing. Unfortunately, the POV first person camera may be the next big fad in Hollywood, and that’s not good. Hardcore Henry is very original, but has no real story, and contains a lot of nauseating camera work. The biggest problem, is us, we’ve encouraged things like this film to happen, and now we have it.
Today’s critics seem to latch onto one critique more than any other, and that is the originality argument. Many people will tell you no film today is really original, but then a film like this comes along. Shot like a videogame this film is original in both look and narrative, however, the focus on creating this video game like look lead to a weak storyline. It seems sad that our generation just craves things that are original, so much so that when we get it, we don’t care about quality.
The greatest flaw of the film is the narrative, or serious lack thereof. Many, if not all, characters are grossly underdeveloped, especially the villain who is goofy and weak. The story is more of a incoherent assembly of scenes, that does little more than further the confusion. It seems that from the outset, Hardcore Henry was always about the POV feel and look. It is ironic, because the film is plotless, and the action doesn’t really look good either.
The gimmick of this film is for the audience to feel like they are in the shoes of the main character. The problem is the main character bobs and weaves so much the film is more on a nauseating set of fight scenes. On top of the terribly shaky action sequences, where very little is visible, the film is poorly edited, furthering the confusing story by jumping around randomly. On top of that, the way the characters and story are presented, time in the film is totally jumbled, and nothing seems to make sense until the end of the film, at which time it’s too late.
In conclusion Hardcore Henry, is an all-out attack on it’s viewers senses, as they are put through a non stop set of nauseating action sequences. The film has no real story, and throws characters in and out of the film, creating a confusing mess of a story. So yes the film is original, but that doesn’t make it good or worth watching, because there’s a gross lack of craft in this film. I suggest you don’t watch this film because the only selling point is the new POV shooting style, which alone is not enough to make a good movie.
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1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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5
badgerryan19May 19, 2017
Awesome stunts, and action scenes. But the shaky cam sometimes becomes too much. Lack of story really holds this back from being great. A lot of video game cliche moments aswell but i didn't mind them. Sharlto Copley was fantastic as heAwesome stunts, and action scenes. But the shaky cam sometimes becomes too much. Lack of story really holds this back from being great. A lot of video game cliche moments aswell but i didn't mind them. Sharlto Copley was fantastic as he always is. But if you like FPS's this is for you. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
JulesMiraApr 21, 2016
The plot and dialogue is very confusing and really hard to follow. There isn't much background put into it in order to understand the story behind it. Although it is interesting that it is an action/science-fiction. And as well as how theThe plot and dialogue is very confusing and really hard to follow. There isn't much background put into it in order to understand the story behind it. Although it is interesting that it is an action/science-fiction. And as well as how the film was shot in a first person view was a little hard on the eyes in certain parts and it was hard to make out what was going on with too much jittering Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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5
JonZsuJun 26, 2016
Although the story is not inspiring, the performances of the cast is overwhelmed by the cinematic techniques, Hardcore Henry as an entertainment is without its pleasures to watch. It's an interesting experiment on how many people would love aAlthough the story is not inspiring, the performances of the cast is overwhelmed by the cinematic techniques, Hardcore Henry as an entertainment is without its pleasures to watch. It's an interesting experiment on how many people would love a see a 96-minute fist-person video gameplay in theaters. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
csw12Jun 1, 2016
Hardcore Henry is a nauseating, sick, first person video game that was so ridiculous it at times became funny................................................
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
ryecaApr 11, 2016
A fairly dumb, one-note movie with occasionally fun moments and a few cool stunts, but mostly horrible acting, a plot straight from video-game cliches ("fight off the bad guys as the good guy slowly lowers down the level, I mean 'set'") and aA fairly dumb, one-note movie with occasionally fun moments and a few cool stunts, but mostly horrible acting, a plot straight from video-game cliches ("fight off the bad guys as the good guy slowly lowers down the level, I mean 'set'") and a villain straight out of a yaoi story. Expand
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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4
aadityamudharApr 17, 2016
Two users got lucky on this one... they gave it a positive rating before the movie's even released. Typical Metacritic website designers bringing all the users in the box before the movie's even released. Hardcore Henry, sadly, does notTwo users got lucky on this one... they gave it a positive rating before the movie's even released. Typical Metacritic website designers bringing all the users in the box before the movie's even released. Hardcore Henry, sadly, does not deserve a positive. It deserves a mixed score like what we normally give movies. Good luck giving it a positive score, users, because Hardcore Henry's just another one-of-those-mixed-movies-that-should-have-been-great movies. Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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4
EpicLadySpongeApr 8, 2016
Two users got lucky on this one... they gave it a positive rating before the movie's even released. Typical Metacritic website designers bringing all the users in the box before the movie's even released. Hardcore Henry, sadly, does notTwo users got lucky on this one... they gave it a positive rating before the movie's even released. Typical Metacritic website designers bringing all the users in the box before the movie's even released. Hardcore Henry, sadly, does not deserve a positive. It deserves a mixed score like what we normally give movies. Good luck giving it a positive score, users, because Hardcore Henry's just another one-of-those-mixed-movies-that-should-have-been-great movies. Expand
3 of 14 users found this helpful311
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4
danielnitesApr 8, 2016
Maybe with all of the advancement in VR tech, it's a good idea to make a film that satisfies one's deepest desires not achievable in AAA titles. Or...maybe not. "Hardcore Henry" is an action-packed (emphasis on the "packed") 90-minute 1stMaybe with all of the advancement in VR tech, it's a good idea to make a film that satisfies one's deepest desires not achievable in AAA titles. Or...maybe not. "Hardcore Henry" is an action-packed (emphasis on the "packed") 90-minute 1st person thrill ride that puts audience members in a visceral and nauseating position. The endless barrage of action sequences stacked on Cloverfield-approved camerawork may have you regretting not picking up a couple of aspirins before the opening trailers.

The early 2000s game plotline opens on a lab setting where synthetic goodies are being stitched to the protagonist/director/audience's body by an increasing gorgeous Estelle (Haley Bennett) who claims to be the wife of said character Henry. Just before our hero's voice can be activated, the lab is raided by heavy-armed men at the command of telekinetic albino antagonist Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) whose B-button weapon is the death of story originality. Next, there's the first of many struggles, complete with an impossible dive from the airship housing the lab and the inevitable kidnapping (inciting incident) of Henry's wife.

A classic run'n'gun-inspired button tutorial follows as Henry makes his way through Moscow until he encounters an alley named Jimmy (Sharlto Copley) who feeds him mini-missions which ultimately lead him to the final boss who wants to take...over the world? Gripping.

"Henry" is a free-for-all of the most epic moments in video game history adapted into live-action form. No matter how impossible, no matter how grotesque, it check off every gamer's to-do list without breaking a sweat or breathing for that matter. At times, it feels more like the creator's personal quest to produce the world's first action trope encyclopedia than a Friday night flick.

The excessive stuffing of crude excitement eventually becomes the film's undoing as we are left with little personal involvement aside from Copley's comedic antics. If doused in paint thinner, it would be unfortunately reduced to a VFX YouTube playlist, modern stereotypes and a thinning plot.

Still, newcomer Ilya Naishuller's technical direction reflects a struggle for true innovation in the action genre and whose efforts closely align with those undertaken decades ago by a young George Lucas with a breakthrough experiment called THX 1138. While innovation may be present, cinematic merit is awarded to quality, not quantity much of which is absent from the film's foundation.

The muted superpowered hero and the creative annihilation of the interchangeable NPCs may speak to the Millennials whose ideas of entertainment are built around the freedom of Grand Theft Auto and the immersive nature of Battlefield, but ultimately the film's incapability of delivering user control, the most alluring feature of such an experiment, denies itself submission to the list of great modern action films.

There has always been a thin line between gimmick and game-changer but taking a half-hearted step forward is only two steps back.

--FilmReviewWeekly
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3 of 13 users found this helpful310
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4
ElectroNickApr 11, 2016
"Hardcore Henry" can be best described as an experimental film. I was intrigued with the concept of a whole action film shot entirely in first person view and the trailers showed some promise for this concept. Unfortunately , the concept did"Hardcore Henry" can be best described as an experimental film. I was intrigued with the concept of a whole action film shot entirely in first person view and the trailers showed some promise for this concept. Unfortunately , the concept did not do any thing for me. The action is visually impressive with stunts that were actually performed by the cast. The par-cor was also pretty impressive and the camera work made the city of Moscow feel like a character itself. However the camerawork actually gave me a few bits of motion sickness. I had gotten a few headaches from viewing the film after the first hour. The first person camera could have immersed the viewer into a gripping story but unfortunately the story itself is merely nothing more than a connection of the action sequences. The action sequences are impressive The characters themselves are merely there to play a specific role. The main love interest is only there to be a love interest and the main villain is only there to be a villain. In fact one plot thread that didn't lead anywhere was how the main villain has magnetic like powers. I was hoping that it would be explained but instead it was frustratingly put in the film with no explanation. Henry himself is really nothing more than a blank slate for the viewer to put themselves in order to immerse the audience into the experience. It is a commendable effort but it failed to do this for me personally. In my opinion this kind of perspective works well in a video game since I am directly in control of the character but in a film though we are watching through the perspective of a character in a story that is non interactive. The one character who does stand out was the scientist named Jimmy. His motivation was what got me enrolled into the plot and his eccentric personality got some laughs out of me as well. This film will have a massive fan base since the concept is unique but I am personally baffled by the critics saying that it is the best action film since" Mad Max Fury Road" . What made "Fury Road" work was the fact the action was supported b a narrative with a simple surface with complex layers and it had characters who the audience could route for against an adversary who was intimidating. At the end of the day though, your enjoyment of the film will sole-fully depend on how much you are willing to tolerate the shaky cam and first person view. It lacks any kind o nuance but to the films credit though, it knows what it wanted to be and didn't try to overstep its bounds. It will please a lot of people but it just wasn't for me. Expand
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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4
skeptic303Oct 20, 2016
Hardcore Henry is a first-person hyper-violent movie that receives high praise from those who like hyper-violent movies and think that the first-person angle is revolutionary. For the rest, it's unmistakably incoherent. Does anyone realizeHardcore Henry is a first-person hyper-violent movie that receives high praise from those who like hyper-violent movies and think that the first-person angle is revolutionary. For the rest, it's unmistakably incoherent. Does anyone realize that the first-person angle is merely another word for found-footage?
It actually is rather bad to be very clear. There is no one who is human in this film and barely any story to go around. When story and plot elements are introduced, they are guaranteed to be stupid. I'll restate the fact that there is nothing revolutionary about this movie and there is barely anything of any substance whatsoever throughout this film.
I'll credit the movie for some of the first-person shots in this movie that deserved to be shot in first-person and the fact that the action, though tiring after a while, held my interest for what it was worth. But the first person angle is so shaky that it actually ruins the quality of much of the action. For me, this is a throwaway film; if I want something completely mindless, I can imagine watching this movie again. Otherwise, it's only worthy of a seal of expendability.
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
BuddahApr 8, 2016
What a crapfest. I was 15 minutes in and I was hoping it would just end. I paid, and I do not like leaving early, but if there was ever a movie I wanted to walk out on it was this one. This is simply a video game from the perspective ofWhat a crapfest. I was 15 minutes in and I was hoping it would just end. I paid, and I do not like leaving early, but if there was ever a movie I wanted to walk out on it was this one. This is simply a video game from the perspective of Hardcore Henry. Yes, I knew what it was about. I had seen plenty of sneak peaks over the last couple of months to peak my interest, but after a while you can only take so much of that kind of shaky camera perspective. This movie makes the Blair Witch Project genre of reality perspective films look like still footage in comparison. There are a lot of positive reviews of this movie, but I have to imagine it is from those people who love this type of video game massacre. I do not mind violence in movies, but to kill at a rate of 10 people per minute of film scene is crazy. Henry is mute and so the majority of the film he is just a killing spree being guided by the mysterious Jimmy. I won't spoil the movie for you, but if you are not a video game junkie that blood lusts, then you might want to go watch a less violent movie like Friday the 13th. At least your eyes will be able to focus on the murderous demon and his piles of death. Expand
10 of 36 users found this helpful1026
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2
moviecritic68Apr 22, 2016
I'm guessing the intrigue for some is the virtual reality effect due to the camera being placed on the character. This was the only reason I scored it 2 rather than 0. The thrill of the story itself was no where to be found. We walked outI'm guessing the intrigue for some is the virtual reality effect due to the camera being placed on the character. This was the only reason I scored it 2 rather than 0. The thrill of the story itself was no where to be found. We walked out about 40 minutes in along with other disappointed patrons. If you have trusted & agreed with my other reviews then I suggest ignoring this 8.5 rating and save your money. Expand
3 of 10 users found this helpful37
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1
AndresLunaAug 8, 2016
I recommend you not to waste your time with this film. I simply had to quit the cinema several minutes before this film ended. I just couldn't keep watching this. It was vulgar, dead people falling around all the time. The camera was almostI recommend you not to waste your time with this film. I simply had to quit the cinema several minutes before this film ended. I just couldn't keep watching this. It was vulgar, dead people falling around all the time. The camera was almost stained with blood. And the filming style makes it very hard and boring to watch. It was shot from the perspective of only one camera. Unfortunately I didn't get my money back. Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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1
GarbageManJrJul 30, 2016
This movie gave me permanent vertigo... If you ever want to simulate the feeling of post tilt-a-whirl motion sickness, this is the movie for you. I really wanted this movie to be good what with the super cool FPS-movie gimmick it had going,This movie gave me permanent vertigo... If you ever want to simulate the feeling of post tilt-a-whirl motion sickness, this is the movie for you. I really wanted this movie to be good what with the super cool FPS-movie gimmick it had going, but it's just garbage in pretty much every category. Obviously this movie wasn't trying to be some blockbuster high budget movie, but you can't even enjoy the FPS action because it is just so poorly filmed which was the whole point of the movie. Stablise. Your. Footage.

Also the villain was written to seem creepy but he just ended up cringey. Like he graduated a C+ student from the Tommy Wiseau University of Cringe. A prestigious establishment no doubt.
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1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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0
JackMApr 15, 2016
I walked out of this one. I would appreciate this film if it had a better told story worth caring about. Here, I was given nothing. This first-person view will just be a short lived gimmick that gave me motion sickness. This is the same asI walked out of this one. I would appreciate this film if it had a better told story worth caring about. Here, I was given nothing. This first-person view will just be a short lived gimmick that gave me motion sickness. This is the same as just watching someone play a video game. The positive user reviews must all come from video game junkies who found a much cheaper alternative. Or you can just watch games on Twitch or Youtube for free. Expand
7 of 17 users found this helpful710
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0
SoakerCityDec 12, 2016
Anything this divisive HAS to be good. To people who get it, its the finest wine. To people who don't get it, its like a dog trying to watch TV. It just doesn't register. Very split along generational lines, I'd assume. Gamers will get it.Anything this divisive HAS to be good. To people who get it, its the finest wine. To people who don't get it, its like a dog trying to watch TV. It just doesn't register. Very split along generational lines, I'd assume. Gamers will get it. People who appreciate innovation, stunts, and camera/technical work will think its the second coming.

Personally, I was blown away and must disagree with any critic who does not give this film a very strong review. Its either way ahead of its time, or everyone else has just utterly failed to deliver novel action, and video game-to-movie synchronicity. This shoestring budget, sophmore job by Ilya Naishuller will go down in history as the first movie that got so very much right for the first time. Its more than a gimmick, every action movie will have most of these elements, and soon. This is the way of the future, there's no doubt.
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2 of 7 users found this helpful25
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0
TyronJamesMay 21, 2016
Hardcore Henry is by far the worst action flick of all time.With a stupid plot and undeniably worst written characters with dialogues which are just cringe worthy,performances that are just bland.It failed to be innovative with a FPS stupidHardcore Henry is by far the worst action flick of all time.With a stupid plot and undeniably worst written characters with dialogues which are just cringe worthy,performances that are just bland.It failed to be innovative with a FPS stupid shots with action set pieces which are just ugly. Expand
5 of 16 users found this helpful511
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0
CoolfreezApr 15, 2016
Too bad there is no score less that "0"
~1.5 hours of nonstop violence being acted upon the camera or performed by the camera agains an ever growing army of bad guys.If your idea of entertainment is to watch someone else play a silly action
Too bad there is no score less that "0"
~1.5 hours of nonstop violence being acted upon the camera or performed by the camera agains an ever growing army of bad guys.If your idea of entertainment is to watch someone else play a silly action video game, going from level 1-10 in 90 minutes, then you'll probably love this movie. Who was the moron who decided it was a good idea to make this movie? I would not put this movie on my resume if I had anything to do with it!
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5 of 27 users found this helpful522
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