Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Review!!!

Synopsis – The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before she teamed up with Mad Max in ‘Fury Road’

My Take – Upon release in 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road, director George Miller‘s return to action cinema after years of delivering family fluff, not only managed to ignite a franchise that had laid dormant since 1985, but also ended up giving us one of the best action films of all time.

Firing off all kinds of ammunition to immerse us in an impossibly vast and intimately gritty world of Max Rockatansky in the most grandiose way possible.

However, most interestingly, the biggest stand out of the feature, along with the spectacle, was Charlie Theron‘s shining portrayal of Furiosa, the literal and figurative driver of the plot. In a genre that tends to victimize or sexualize the female leads, director Miller portrayed a strong female without any unnecessary feminist underpinnings, and had the strength, purpose and depth to evolve the story beyond the mindless chase scenes.

Nearly nine years later, we are back in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of despots, desperation, and bloody vengeance, in a prequel story that not only provides the origins of the glamorous, one-armed badass, but once again redefines the boundaries of the action genre. Resulting in an absolute thrill ride, with jaw-dropping action, a kick-ass female lead, and a visual steam, offering one breathtaking image after another.

Most importantly, it is a vastly different animal than the non-stop, practical effects adrenaline rush of Fury Road. A more conventional, chapter-driven narrative that frames an epic battle over limited resources as grotesque villains clamor for action-packed supremacy.

It’s a film that not only honors its predecessors but also stands on its own, delivering a perfect blend of relentless action, compelling characters, and a story that resonates with the human spirits and indomitable will. Indeed, this is one of the best films of the year.

Set years before the events of the Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), the story initially follows a young Furiosa (Alyla Browne), who is kidnapped from the Green Place of Many Mothers, one of the last remaining areas with fresh water and agriculture, by a bunch of raiders as a prize for their leader, Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), warlord of the Biker Horde.

Though her mother, Mary Jo Bassa (Charlee Fraser), pursues the biker horde that have kidnapped her precious daughter, and young Furiosa proves to be more than a meek captive as she does everything possible to stop their advance and protect the secret location of the Green Place, Dementus ends up capturing them both and forces Furiosa to watch her mother’s crucifixion.

Later on, she is passed into the hands of the hideous Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), to become a future bearer of his heir, only for her to escape and works her way up the ranks of Joe’s men for over a decade disguise as a mute teenage boy (Anya Taylor-Joy). Finding herself an opportunity to assist the driver of the war rig, Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke). But never forgetting about the revenge she has to take on Dementus and find her way back to the Green Place.

From here on out, director George Miller pulls out all the stops to make an even more outrageous action epic with great vistas, expansive sets, compelling action, cringing violence and impactful characters. As a director Miller has become famous for the meticulously evolving Mad Max series, and his regular detailed world building, with the assistance of co-writer Nico Lathouris, is in full force, with excellent production design, cinematography and editing sharper than the on screen spikes.

Exploring the cruel cunning of wasteland politics with Game of Thrones-styled machinations, where Immortan Joe is literally the king in a high castle and Dementus cannot physically reach him without being destroyed. He must take what Immortan Joe deems valuable to force a negotiated settlement. And Dementus is not the only warlord vying for Joe’s big chair.

It helps that the cinematography is stunning, capturing the stark beauty of the Wasteland and the visceral action sequences with equal flair. The film’s score complements the high-octane visuals, driving the tension and emotion throughout Furiosa’s harrowing journey. There is, once again, an astonishing standard of stunts and visual effects sustained throughout these 148 minutes, with at least six audacious set-pieces, including a three-day chase across a desert, and a staggering airborne assault on a War Rig that must be seen to be believed.

The only real downgrade from its predecessor, which draws several easy comparisons, is that the first two chapters of the film are a bit slow, with the story’s engine only really revving once Taylor-Joy enters the frame.

Performance wise, Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Brown, who get nearly equal screen time following Furiosa from childhood to grown woman, dominate scene after scene. They both have thirty lines of dialogue together yet they deliver a tour-de-force turn embodying the character with a fierce determination and emotional depth that captivates from the first frame.

Chris Hemsworth‘s portrayal of the villainous Dementus is both charismatic and menacing, providing a perfect foil. Tom Burke provides an equally strong and likable supporting performance, enriching the narrative.

In other roles, Lachy Hulme, Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson, Elsa Pataky, Josh Helman and Quaden Bayles manage to shine. Charlee Fraser leaves a strong mark in her limited screen time. On the whole, ‘Furiosa’ is an enthralling summer blockbuster that makes for yet another worthy addition to the Mad Max franchise.