Fans of hard action movies can currently watch a very good representative of the genre on Amazon Prime. But there are only a few days left before the film leaves the program. MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth advises not to miss this opportunity.
What film is it about? The Raid is an action film by British director Gareth Evans. However, it is actually a co-production between Indonesia and the USA. The film was released in 2011 and has earned a very good reputation over time. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 87%, both from critics and audiences. This is mainly due to the successful action, which can easily compete with other films that have a significantly higher budget.
The storyline is intentionally simple and aligned with the aforementioned action: A group of police officers storm a high-rise building in the Indonesian city of Jakarta. There, the criminal boss Tama has entrenched himself with his minions. While many of the law enforcers meet their demise, especially protagonist Rama relentlessly fights to work his way up floor by floor.
Uncompromising Action Up Close
What makes the film so good? The Raid is one of those action films that truly deserve that title. Yes, there is a storyline, but it actually doesn’t play a significant role. The focus is on the fights, of which there are many in The Raid.
When one thinks of well-executed action scenes today, John Wick quickly comes to mind. There, Keanu Reeves fights his way through hordes of enemies with firearms, but sometimes also with knives or other objects. Director Chad Stahelski has stated to Rotten Tomatoes that The Raid was an inspiration for him:
John Wick 2 was heavily influenced by Hong Kong and Asian films, and John Wick 3 took it even further and was heavily influenced by The Raid. Gareth [Evans’] works are amazing.
Chad Stahelski
However, there are differences: What looks stylish in John Wick is considerably grittier in The Raid. This is mainly because the confrontations feel much more real. Every punch, every kick, every stab feels genuine and hurts to watch.
Of course, you have to like that. So be warned: If you can’t handle violence in films or find it too much, this is definitely not for you. The Raid does not shy away from making the impact of the fights palpable at all times, and showing the consequences that arise from it.
If you have no problem with that, you will experience some fantastic fight choreography, where the handheld camera is always close to the action. It is dynamic, but never too hectic, so you do not lose track of the chaotic events. This is also because the film does not have too many cuts and shows movements in one piece – a virtue that many other genre representatives have unfortunately forgotten.
Is the film perfect? In its genre, there is hardly anything to criticize in terms of action. However, you can partially tell that the film had a low budget of around 1.2 million euros (aintitcool.com). The sets are all quite small and tidy and are far less varied and spectacular than, for example, in John Wick. You can find more film tips for Wick fans on MeinMMO.
The story could also be more interesting, even for an action film. It especially lacks an emotional anchor that ensures that the main character is close to your heart.
However, if that doesn’t bother you, you will experience a great representative of the genre here, which even received a sequel in 2014. This continues the story and makes everything a notch bigger.
Part 1 is currently available on Amazon Prime, but not for long: On November 6, 2025, just 8 days away, the film will leave the streaming provider. If you want to find out how the police officer Rama fares in the high-rise building, you need to hurry. MeinMMO editor Niko Hernes has another film recommendation that no fan of John Wick should miss.
